A Ghost Encounter: My Time with Simon "Ghost" Riley

Part Eighty-Six: The Funeral - Part Two

-- TIME SKIP --

10:20 AM

The field of the Veteran's Cemetery slowly starts filling with some familiar faces and other veterans as well.

Even Captain Winters and some of my old team members are in attendance—but mostly foreign ones who joined after I left for the Task Force.

141, and König, carried in the casket earlier. We're all now standing around the casket, watching and waiting.

Ghost chooses to stand on the opposite end of the casket from me.

10:30 AM

The service is starting with a eulogy from Laswell.

She speaks about Soap's legend, all the good he's done for his country and the country of others, and Soap's character.

Next in line to speak is Captain Price.

"Johnny 'Soap' MacTavish was a dedicated and passionate soldier. His sacrifices for his country and his team are endless..."

Captain Price continues his speech by reminiscing about his favorite memories of Soap: the way Soap lit up any room with his golden retriever personality, his bar and drinking habits, and a time when he and Soap raced around the entire base to see who was faster.

Apparently, Soap was.

The last veteran speaking is Ghost and after that, some of Soap's family members will speak.

Ghost barely speaks on a good day, so to say I'm worried for him is an understatement.

I had no prior knowledge that he was giving a eulogy. He never told me.

Ghost approaches the front of the casket to begin. Looking at Ghost tells me nothing. He's the perfect picture of stoicism and calm.

Even his eyes are blank.

Ghost loosens a deep breath, takes out and unfolds a piece of paper, and begins.

"Johnny..." Ghost pauses and clenches his jaw. "Johnny was my brother. He will always be my brother." He grips the paper harder. "Johnny was the best of us. He was selfless and caring. He was good, in his heart," Ghost swallows, the sound audible for all to hear. "I've long given up the idea of Heaven, but for people like Johnny...I'm positive he's there."

And with that, Ghost finishes his speech. Short and sweet.

After all the speeches ceased, we gave a proper salute and the Taps were played. We then took the burial flag with Soap's family and placed it on the casket before lowering him in.

It was a very emotional experience. Everyone cried, the only exception being Ghost. Too many people here, too vulnerable.

Eventually, the funeral service ended. As I predicted, Ghost opted out of the reception. He gave his respects and condolences to Soap's family and made a direct line to his truck.

But when he entered his truck, he waited before driving away. Whether he paused to collect himself or because he was waiting for me didn't matter.

I decided I'd skip out on the reception too.

I gave my respects and condolences to Soap's family, checked in with Captain Winters and my old team, and told Captain Price and Laswell my plans.

Now, when I look over and see Ghost still waiting in the truck, my suspicions are confirmed.

He's waiting for me.

I start my trek to Ghost's truck but Price calls out to me, "Roberts."

"Yes?" I turn back around to face him, his face weary.

"Never mind." Price gives me a fake smile and nods. "We'll talk later."

Weird...

I nod back at Price to show my understanding and then continue my walk to Ghost's truck.

I enter the vehicle and Simon makes no objections. We drive in absolute silence—no music, no nothing—to the base.

What is there to say? Sorry your friend died.

He doesn't want to hear that. He's heard that all day.

A few moments later, we're back at the base. We exit his truck and he grabs my hand, tightly. He tugs my arm and walks us to my private quarters, not his.

His door is directly next to Soap's old one.

We enter my quarters, still silent. Simon takes a seat on my bed, and without looking at me says, "We need to talk."