A Lonely Silhouette {Bella's Funeral}

template by Punki of Adoxography

A life that's paradisaical is an implausible thing for one to believe they can have. Throughout the duration of one's living days, they're bound to surrender a person they cared about, no matter how unwilling they are to let said person's death occur. Unfortunately, the children of the Pound have now surrendered Bella Rose to the realm of the dead. As her name boomed over the crowds gathered in the bustling Disrtict Square, I felt my heart start to have palpitations. Saying I was frightened for her would be an understatement. The true emotions that were flowing through my body in that particular moment were far worse than that. I felt more than just fearful. I wasn't just scared. It was certainly more than just panic. Petrified for her life and well-being would be the more proper way of putting it.

Recognizing Bella's mental and physical strength wasn't difficult. The dilemma, however, was that there were twenty-three others going into that wretched death match that very well could have had the same level of strength. Hell, they could even have been significantly stronger. There was no way for us to obtain information on the other tributes in this moment. We would just have to stand idly by and witness it all as the events unfolded before us on the television screens. Surely, Bella was much more scared than the rest of us were, but she didn't reveal it outwardly. It seemed impossible to me that she was completely confident. Given who her District partner ended up being, I would have been nervous immediately. Bella may have been intelligent and capable, but when I saw this boy, I could tell that it was likely he was as well, if not more so.

It pained me to see Bella reap another's soul from their body, causing their lifetime to cease to go on. Although, I was well aware that, if she were to return to her home of District Ten, she'd have to take at least one other life in the finale of the Games. She didn't accomplish the task of making it to the finale, though. I recall Norbert's tearful reaction when the boy from Seven struck down our dear companion. I may not have known Bella well, but it still resulted in great emotional distress for me. Norbert was far more distraught than I was, but I understood as to why. The two of them had bonded far more than she and I had, even if it wasn't all that much. I'd only spoken a few words every once in a great while in the general direction of Bella Rose. I'm not even truly certain that we conversed properly more than once in the years we'd known one another.

Not too long after the 78th Hunger Games concluded, Bella Rose's body was returned to us, but no longer breathing. The lifeless shell of a girl was in a casket in front of us on the day of the funeral, Norbert on the ground, his legs to his chest and his face buried in his knees as he sobbed in a similar manner to how he had on the day of Bella's demise. I felt the heartbreak of it all, too, but not as much as many of the others who were present. Guilt was present in my emotions, as it felt wrong not to be mourning her as much as my fellow funeral attendees were. Perhaps I would have felt less guilty if I tried to cry just the slightest bit.

Approaching the coffin that now contained the deceased body of the girl, I looked down at her lifeless body. They'd closed her eyes and she nearly looked like she was asleep. Nearly, but not quite. The up and down of the chest that a living, breathing person would have if they were asleep wasn't present, which truly showed that she was gone.

"I'm sorry, Bella. You were so strong, and you did so well, but he took that from you. You deserved to come back to us alive." I placed my right hand on her cold ones that were folded together and a tear fell from my eyes.

It was an honest tear, not a lie. Speaking to her had caused some more emotion to grow inside of me. I truly missed her, whether or not I had come to that particular realization when she first died. I no longer felt the emotion of fear for her. Instead, I felt the emotion of sadness and heartbreak.

Bella was so much more popular around the Pound than I was, and deserved so much better. The thought even crossed my mind that I should have taken her place. Would anyone have missed me aside from Norbert if I did that? Sure, I have friends and acquaintances at the Pound, but am I truly loved as much as Bella? Would anyone but Norbert and a few close friends have even attended my funeral if it were me in the casket instead of her?

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