3.11 Alternate Ending

3:15 am, I lie in the spot of my bed I’d always gone to for comfort, now lying there unable to move, think, breathe, sleep, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that my world would never be the same again. Randomly waking up in the early hours of the morning is something I rarely do, so waking up at 3:06 am looking around my room, seeing Kierra also happen to wake up wasn’t right. Looking over at my phone, seeing Mrs. Jennie was calling me, I hesitantly answered, unsure of what to expect. Still half asleep, I asked, “Hello?”. Is everything okay?” “Hi sweet girl, I’m sorry if I woke you up.” She paused for a moment, I could tell something was up. Her pause was longer than any normal conversation pause. Her pause was maybe four seconds, but
I sat in classes, gaze fixed upon something off in the distance, unable to direct my focus to the teacher, the work, or anything besides the mess of thoughts running through my mind. I was there, listening, but I wasn't there. I couldn’t recall a word said to me for the next several weeks. I shut down, shut people out. The funeral for Mason was held on November 20th. I sat towards the back of the Church, fearing the tears that were daring to stream down my face at the sight of the open casket. The eulogist announced that the casket would be closing, and the service would be starting, so anyone who wanted to say their final goodbyes to Mason should come to the front now. I stayed put, sitting in the back, still fearing my tears, as Mrs. Jennie called out to me in the quiet, echoing church. “Maggie baby, come up to the front with me. Lets say our last goodbyes together.” I thought I'd feel something when she called out to me in front of everyone. The usual embarrassment when I was the only one called out, the flutter in my stomach walking in front of everyone, feeling my cheeks turn red, but this time, I felt none of it. I felt nothing but a sigh. Nothing except the overwhelming feeling of being empty. Standing up and making my way to the front of the