Saying Goodbye...

Posted on Tue Jun 20, 2017 @ 3:47pm by Lieutenant JG Jacob Hartley

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Indiana, Earth
Timeline: MD 15 || 1423 Hours

Having reached Earth was a bitter moment for Jacob. He stood at the front of a small group, in front of a coffin that held the word Father on it. He hadn't received the notification right away, because of the problems with the ship, but as soon as contact with Earth had been re-established, he had learnt that his mentor from the academy had passed away.

The man, William Francis, was a good friend to Jacob, having taught him everything he knew. He had passed away of a heart attack, whilst he had been rock climbing. Why he had been rock climbing at 72 was a matter for debate, but Jacob knew the man had never slowed down once in his life.

Jacob had been invited to the funeral as a pall bearer - an invite he had almost not been able to accept thanks to the issues that the ship had faced. Thankfully, that hadn't happened.

As he looked at the coffin, he placed a hand on it, his head bowed. "Thank you, old man, for everything." He said softly. He then stood next to the coffin, along with the other bearers, and picked it up.

Walking down the church aisle, he heard the song that was playing, an old song, Stand By Me. He could see a number of mourners, including William's family, all shedding tears. Jacob, however, wasn't. It wasn't because he didn't want to. Far from it - he wanted to be able to shed tears, because he knew the pain he felt warranted it.

But for some reason, the tears weren't coming. He knew the family thought he was just being strong, but for Jacob, he had never been able to mourn anyone properly. He hadn't even mourned his own family's passing properly.

As he helped carry the coffin to where it would be buried, Jacob placed it gently on the mechanism that would lower it into the ground. William had always said he wanted an old fashioned funeral, buried in a wooden coffin on Earth. He had always said it was because he had come from Earth, so he would return to it.

Jacob looked at the coffin once more and removed a pendant from his suit pocket. It was something that William had given Jacob after he had arranged for Jacob to spend every day for two weeks alone on a holodeck plateau, learning patience, after his first year at the academy. The entire event had taught Jacob a lot, and the pendant was a reminder to always take time if time could be spared, and to never rush. He hadn't always followed the lesson, but it had taught him a valuable lesson.

"I'll never forget what you taught me." Jacob whispered, placing the pendant on the coffin. He stood back and watched as the coffin was lowered into the ground, before turning and leaving.

Saying goodbye...was always the hardest part of life...