Synthetic Lover

The sky was dark and grey. The rain was heavy.

It was cold, and that was exactly how I felt.

A bouquet of beautiful white roses decorated his casket.

His face was so pale, so deathly pale.
But he was still beautiful to me.

Open your eyes.
Please, let those blue orbs to stare at me with love and care, like they always do.

He’s sleeping…He’s just sleeping.

I wiped a stray tear with a handkerchief as Chris finished his eulogy.

“Ricky was the best friend that we ever had. He will always be in our hearts, and he will never be forgotten.”

I let out another sob as Josh wrapped an arm around my shoulders, trying to comfort me.

The preacher came out to announce the end of the service, signaling Chris, Angelo, Ryan, and Brandon to carry the casket.

My heart slowly tore in my chest as I watched Chris close the rest of the casket before all of them lifted it into the air.

I got up and followed them as they walked outside.

It was silent, except for the sound of the raindrops hitting the ground, all the way to the dug up grave.
The casket was placed on the support beam and two men started to lower it into the ground.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I just couldn’t take it.

“No! Stop! Don’t put him in there!”
I sobbed hysterically, grabbing onto the edge of the casket.

“Devin! What are you doing?! Please! Let go!”

Brandon and Chris tried to pull me away, but I wouldn’t let go.

I couldn’t let go.

“No! He’s not dead! Ricky isn’t dead! He can’t be!”

I cried out when I lost my grip on the casket.

Brandon pulled me into his arms, keeping a tight grip on me so I wouldn’t do anything rash again.

“Let me go, Brandon! Please…! Let me go…! I have to save him! Ricky! Wake up!”

“Devin! Snap out of it! Please!” Josh pleaded.
“He’s gone, Devin. We can’t do anything. He’s gone…” Ryan chimed in.
I shook my head.

He’s not gone. He’s not gone. He’s not gone…

My legs grew weak and caved in, but Brandon was still holding me up.

One of the men in charge of the casket came up to us.

“We won’t be placing the casket in the grave until tomorrow. If you want, you can stay to say your goodbyes.”

Chris nodded and the two men walked off.
Brandon loosened his grip and I collapsed onto the ground.

“He’s not dead…He’s not dead, guys…”

“Devin…I know this is hard…It’s hard for all of us, but we have to let him go.”
Angelo tried to reason with me.

I didn’t respond.

I kept my focus on the casket as I gripped the ground.

Time passed and the guys left one by one.
Josh insisted that he stay with me, but I told him to go.

He placed his jacket over me to shield me from the rain, and hugged me.

“Devin, if you ever need to talk about anything, you know that we’re all here for you, right?”

I nodded slowly.

“Don’t stay out here too long. Text me when you get home, okay?”

I nodded again.

He placed a kiss on my forehead before he left.
I pulled my knees to my chest and continued to watch the casket.

“Ricky…I know you can hear me…Please wake up…Please tell me that all of this is a sick joke.”

No response.

The wind picked up, blowing the bouquet of roses off the casket.

“I know what it’s like.”

I turned around quickly, hearing the voice.

A woman shrouded in a hooded black cloak was standing there.

I stood up and turned around to completely face her.

“I know what it’s like to lose someone you love dearly.”

Her lips weren’t moving, but I could hear her…
I gave her a questioning look.

“You don’t want to let him go, do you?”

I bit down on my lip and shook my head.

“I know how you can bring him back.”

My heart started to pound harshly in my chest.

“H-How…?”

She gave me a sly, twisted smile that made my stomach churn as she came closer.
She handed me a small, black book with a symbol etched in gold on the cover.

“I suggest you start reading. They’re going to completely bury him tomorrow.”

I glanced at the book again, but when I looked up, she was gone.

The rain finally stopped, so I slowly opened the book.

‘Sempiternal: eternal and unchanging; everlasting.

As long as you submit, this is guaranteed.’

My breathing became unsteady.

Submit to what…?

I continued to flip through the pages until one word caught my eye.

‘Resurrection’

I stopped to read what was on there, my heart rate increasing with each sentence.
I closed the notebook and let out a slow, shaky breath.

I placed my hand on the casket, gently rubbing the smooth but wet surface.

“I’ll come back later, Ricky. Then…We can be together again.”

There was a small smile on my face as I walked home, holding the notebook tight in my hands.