The final whistle.

The final whistle.(tori) I still remember it’s like it was yesterday. It’s as clear and fresh in my mind as ever but still just as painful. Heaven gained an angel that day, but he didn’t deserve to go, not yet. I’d never felt this way before and I couldn’t face it. I was in denial, denial of the truth. I was unable to believe that he was gone.
‘’ I’m so sorry, we have some terrible news your grandad has passed away.’’ Brooke’s dad said sadly.
Brooke leaned out to hug her dad, she hugged him tightly. She was un-able to catch her breath and all of her emotions just seemed to have drained out of her body. That day changed Brooke. She felt empty, her heart was crying out and broken into pieces. For days you’d look at her and she was in her own world. Her eyes were filled with water; she would freeze and stare as if she was frozen. She felt so alone, though deep down in her heart she knew he would never leave her.
‘’ I still remember, I remember his face, his smile, his voice and his smell.’’ Brooke said softly.
‘’ It will get better, I promise. Memories last forever and nothing will ever change that.’’ Emily replied.
Brooke had this cardigan, a knitted one. It was one that her grandma had knitted for her when she was a baby. Brooke knew she had it somewhere. She raided all her draws and she found it at the top of her wardrobe. There it was. As she held it up to her face, it had this smell. This smell she could never forget. It was the smell of her grandad. Brooke sat on her windowsill that night and just stared out the window. She was desperate, desperate for closure. She still didn’t want to face it. How can anyone easily accept that the person they love is not here anymore?
‘’ Tea time Brooke, come down please!’’ Her mum shouted.
‘’ I’m not Hungary.’’ Brooke replied.
It came to the day of the funeral Brooke was only a child herself, this was a big day for her and her family. All throughout the ceremony she had tears down her face. One by one family went up and paid their respects and touched the coffin. This was the hardest bit for Brooke. Reality kicked in. She knew if she touched the coffin that, that would be it. It would be goodbye. She couldn’t do that, she pulled away in pain nearly falling to the ground. She slowly, hesitantly walked up, and her fingertips just slid onto it. She shot out like a rocket.
‘’ I am very sorry for your loss.’’ The Vicar said.
That was it, the day she now accepted it.
I remember that day crystal clear, but everything now just seems like a blur. They say it gets better in time, but for me the pain is still there but even I now know life waits for no-one.
She put on a brave face, and did stuff she loved. She went to a railway museum, as her grandad used to be a train driver and she knew he would be there with her that day. She overcome some of her fears, and was determined to make him proud.
When the final whistle blew for departure, that’s when he truly left. He left for his new destination: heaven. He may have left his family behind, but Brooke knew that one day that same whistle will blow again.
‘’ Always follow your dreams, and never forget who you are. It’s not necessarily about the destination and happy ending but about the story that led you to where you are.’’
As the whistled finally died down and could no longer be heard, Brooke’s new chapter was just beginning.