As Real As It Gets ✔️

11: It's From The Heart

*Cory*

My mom fixed my tie and gave me a kiss on the cheek and smiled and I gave a faint smile back.

“You look good baby,” she smiled and picked up her purse, ready to leave and walked out the door and like no other, the journalist and new stations was parked on my door.

“Mr. Smith will this delay from you coming to Florida?” one said.

“Do you think that this is your fault?” Another said and I turned around ready to say something until my mom stepped in front of me.

“Excuse me but right now Cory is in his time of need and I would appreciate it if you let us deal privately, if not I would be willing to call the police department,” my mom warned and I walked straight to the car and sat there then put my head down and started crying.

Why would the media say that I was the cause of my best friend’s death? I loved Alex like a brother and if I knew that some of the football players was the reason of his death then I would have beaten they ass then quit the team.  Alex never told me anything, he didn’t say a word around me to show that this was happening. I do feel like it is my fault that it did happen but I always warned Alex to stand up for himself, but he couldn’t and it resulted to this.

I put my head back down and continued crying, my mom just got in the car and patted me on the back and started driving to the destination.

I kept my head down for the forty five minutes that my mother was driving. I couldn’t bear to pick up my face and look around it was too brutal.

“Yes Jazz I’ll be there in a minute, traffic is a little slow today; Cory will be ready once he gets there,” my mom said into the phone then rubbed my back, “You think you could do this? Jazz doesn’t mind,” she asked softly rubbing my back and I sighed.

“I’m going to do it,” I answered.

“You sure Cory, you know I don’t like when your like this,” I sat up and looked at her.

“I promised I was going to do this, I can’t break a promise ma.”

She smiled and gave me a kiss on my forehead and pulled into the parking lot. I looked up at the church and gave a heavy sigh. How much did I didn’t want to be here. My mom put her hand on my chin and turn my face towards her and wiped my tears. I took another deep breath and got out the car and walked out over to Jazz and gave her a hug.

“It’s nice to meet you Cory, you okay?” I cracked a smile.

Jazz was the funeral director and a nice woman at that. She was short with natural long curly hair and almond shaped eyes. She was beautiful. For someone who planned things for the deceased though.

“I’m making, I just want to get over with today,” I explained and she nodded her head.

The church was full, mostly of students from the school wearing tee shirts that had his face plastered o nit. Even teachers, administrators and even the security guards came through just for Alex.

I walked inside the church as all the faces looked at me, some smiled and waved and others looked at me as if I was a different person. But I just kept on walking with my head held high and made my way over to the family in the first pew giving everyone hugs. I got to his mother and sorrow was thrown on her face, she wore all black while his sister Diane consoled her as much as she could. She got up and looked at me then smiled and pulled me into a hug which had me getting the waterworks.

“You were always family to me and a brother to my son, I thank you for being there for him,” she whispered and I couldn’t help but break down and start crying. Tears flowed down and my face turned red.