The Passion

POV: Amanda Kgosi

It’s complete silence inside the assembly hall until “Amanda, Grayson’s girlfriend is up next” gets announced, which was my cue. Before I could process the thought of walking up to the podium, it appeared as if everyone was staring at me. This made me nervous. I began to hear murmuring amongst the crowd. I slowly rise from my seat, making sure I looked neat and I make my way to the podium.

I kept my eyes to the floor, trying to avoid the weary and curious eyes of the crowd. “That’s her” they must be confirming amongst themselves. They must be asking themselves if “she’s the one that did it”.

As the stairs to the podium are in view, I shut down my thoughts and focus on the next task at hand.

The eulogy.

I finally reach the top of the stairs and make myself familiar with my surroundings by looking around the assembly hall.

I only just realized how many people had attended the memorial service. It must’ve been the entire school.

For some particular reason, I had contradictory emotions about the attendance.

I was glad that so many people had attended, in the name of Gray.

However, I hardly seem to recognize many of the people in the crowd. I was curious as to why they even bothered to attend.

"Clout chasers” I mutter to myself.

I’ll come to admit. It’s extremely difficult for me to even think about him in my subconscious, nonetheless, imagine saying it in front of a large crowd. This specific crowd of students, teachers, and personal expect me to say the best features and characteristics about him.

Everybody appears to be settling down, which was the signal for me to begin speaking. I take a deep breath, gather my thoughts and organize my cue cards as I’m about to open for the memorial of my best friend, my brother. My lover.

I look up and see Gina within the crowd. She gently nods her head and I immediately knew she was telling me: ”you got this“. Thus suddenly a void within me got filled with the courage that I needed to continue.

And so I begin, “Grayson Peterson”.