The Funeral
"Goodbye, Jared... I'll always love you."
Kneeling beside the heavy casket, Sophie bade farewell to her husband, Jared Skoda, who lay within.
Jared had been shot and killed seven days earlier while on duty as a police officer.
His killer was a robber who opened fire indiscriminately, killing and injuring many people.
Jared was shot while shielding civilians as he rushed into the scene.
Sophie kissed her husband on the cheek and then softly on the lips.
Thanks to the careful embalming, Jared looked almost as if he were only sleeping.
She was standing in a cemetery, at the graveside where his funeral was being held.
It was early winter, and she had given birth just four weeks earlier.
She turned her gaze to the baby boy in her grandfather’s arms.
Her father, Jay Cooper, noticed her look and gave her a small nod.
Sophie slowly walked over to him.
Sophie Skoda was a nineteen-year-old college student. She had married Jared Skoda, a police officer seven years her senior, the previous winter and had just given birth to their son.
She was a beautiful girl, with clear, pale blue eyes, long, lustrous blond hair, refined features, and a slender figure.
Both families had gathered for the funeral.
Adam Skoda, the eldest son of the Skoda family, stood a short distance away from Sophie.
He gazed at his beloved sister-in-law through the dark gray eyes behind his glasses.
He was 190 centimeters tall, well-built, and a former college basketball player.
Seeing the profound sorrow on Sophie’s face, Adam started to say something, then stopped himself.
In her arms, the plump, healthy-looking baby slept soundly all through the service.
After the funeral concluded, Sophie stood motionless, watching the gravediggers lay Jared to rest.
“Bye-bye, Jare.”
Sophie whispered the words sadly. Adam hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over to Sophie and Jay Cooper.
“Sophie… Mr. Cooper.”
Adam greeted them both.
Sophie turned toward him with a calm, composed expression.
“Hello, Adam. And my condolences to your family.”
Jay answered for Sophie.
The winter air outside was bitterly cold. Clad only in her mourning dress, Sophie was shivering.
Adam pointed toward his car. “Well then… I’ll drive you home.”
He made the offer quietly.
“Sophie… you look exhausted. My mother has everything ready so you can get some rest over the next few days.”
“Adam, about that… Sophie is going to come back to our place with Jamie,”
Jay said, placing a hand on his daughter’s back.
“She’s still a student, after all, and she needs to keep up with her studies while raising the baby.”
Adam paused.
Throughout the conversation, Sophie kept her head down, her face pale.
“Anyway… I’ll drive you home.”
Adam opened the driver’s side door and gestured for them to get in.
“Yes, thank you.”
Jay nodded and gently urged Sophie toward the car.
“Sophie, let’s accept Adam’s kind offer and take the ride.”
“Okay, Dad.”
