The funeral, the bitterness, was unbearable. Buttoned up and collar upturned, David still felt the chill in his spine through the pea soup down jacket and cotton rib sweater his wife Karen bought at the Black Friday sales. David looked at his watch his father gave him last year at Christmas. He'd miss his flight after all. They made allowances for times like these, the service agent said, don't worry, we're sorry for your loss. As soon as he finished the call, Karen took the Blackberry from David and turned it off.
The bearers and fellow mourners stopped ahead of him. David took his eyes off his shoes just in time. Simone, unprepared and pale in her only black suit, stood at the head of her boyfriend's grave. David was supposed to watch over him. David was supposed to make sure his best friend, his best man, got home.
....
