Moving Forward

Part 86

"Amen," everyone responds.

"Aaron Jameson Hotchner leaves behind his beloved fiancée, Emilia Adela Prentiss, and son, Oliver Aaron Hotchner, as well as his unborn daughter yet to come. He left behind his brother Sean Lawrence Hotchner. He also leaves behind his second family which is his team. However, he will find back his deceased daughter. I invite Mrs. Prentiss to say something."

I get up and I walk to the front, my hands are shaking a bit.

"It will remain from you what you have given.
Instead of keeping it in those rusty chests.
It will remain from you from your secret garden,
A forgotten flower that has not faded.
What you gave, in others, will flourish.
The one who loses his life, one day, will find it.
It will remain from you what you offered.
Between opened arms a morning in the sun.
It will remain from you what you have lost.
That you waited farther than awakening,
What you have suffered, in others, will revive.
The one who loses his life, one day, will find it.
It will remain from you a fallen tear.
A smile germinated on the eyes of your heart.
It will remain from you what you have sown
Which you shared with the beggars of happiness.
What you sowed, in others, will germinate.
The one who loses his life, one day, will find it."

As I finish the poem, my eyes fill up with tears and my daughter kicks and starts to wiggle a lot. I rub my middle to calm her down as I get back to my place, wiping my tears away. As Sean had prepared something, he gets up to share what he wrote.

"Goodbye Aaron. You are always gone to other horizons, sometimes near, sometimes far away, what are the distances when the heart and the mind know where to fond each other? Those who have loved you for a long time learned to accommodate to your absences. This time it's another departure, the one to which we all have to go but which you take way too soon. It was 10 days ago, and we already feel so orphaned. Words are poor to talk about you, brother. There would be so much to say. No more fierce discussions, controversies, indignation and profound passions. We were opposed on everything, united on the essential, a question of point of view. You were always there for everyone and even when you were exhausted, you put a point of honor to let nothing appear, especially to those you loved the most. You fought against your monsters since your daughter died, you led them with a meticulous application, unfailing energy, without concession or hatred. You were always there for my in the difficult moments, and I know I haven't been the best brother, or uncle, or brother-in-law. We have known how to deal with people. You have been always there for Emily and your family. People know they can always count on you. I want to close your eyes on a moment of our story, it was yesterday and we were us. Time wasn't existing yet. Then we grew up, we thought we could touch the stars, nothing was impossible for us. We have caught a few ones, under all skies and at what price. Yours have shined very brightly. Nothing is impossible yet. And we will love you forever and we won't forget you. Thank you for everything you did."

Sean closes his eyes as if he wanted to prevent tears from falling, and he gets back to his place. Dave gets up.

"I'd like to share something I wrote for Aaron."

He walks to the front. From his pocket, he takes out a little piece of paper. He clears his throat before starting:

"I have something engraved in my head,
In my memory,
In my heart.
I have something pure, beautiful,
It's my secret.
This secret is our friendship
Which will last for eternity,
Even if you are no longer of this world,
You will remain forever
My best friend.

What is this pain engraved in me?
What is this thing that nibbles away my sadness?
What is this grief that

Makes me no longer totally happy?
This badly being,
This thing,
This sorrow dates since I lost you,
You,
My best friend.

Why did you help me?
Why did you love me?
Why were you my best friend?
I can answer all these questions that are asked about you,
Except for one that has been haunting me for almost 2 weeks:
Why are you dead?

I would have liked to tell you how much I care about you,
But I've always been taught that words fly away
And that the writings remain.
I would have liked you to know that you are one of my reasons for living,
My best friend,
Without you,
I am nothing.
But, whatever I write you will never know
Because you are dead,
And I'll never forgive myself."

I can see that he's holding back his tears. He then waits for Derek, Spencer, and Sean to help him to bring the coffin to the hole he'll be buried in. I decided it'll be next to our daughter's grave. The priest says another prayer as the coffin goes down. Once his coffin in at the bottom of the hole, we throw our flowers on it before it gets buried. On his grave, it's written:

"Aaron Jameson Hotchner
November 2nd, 1971 - January 21st, 2017
Fidelity Bravery Integrity"

Once it's finished, everyone gets inside to leave me alone with Aaron.

"Aaron... I love you so much and I know you would probably want to stay, but it's okay. You can go. I'll be alright. Thanks for looking after me, but I'm fine. You can go find our daughter, I won't be mad. It's okay, you fought enough. You deserve some rest. Goodbye."

I get up and I send a flying kiss to his grave as I wipe my tears away. Then I walk inside, without turning back.