When the World Stops

When our friend is taken unexpectedly the world stops. Grief emotions we have never felt before smack us in our t-zone. We pass the ice cream parlor and unexpectedly sob out a memory. Our relatives tiptoe around us, waiting for the other foot to drop. We readily demonstrate the thin veil between laughter and tears. Calling mutual friends to reminisce together. Howling begins. Our relatives stay away, thinking we are crying, but we are laughing. Remembering how funny our friend could be, loving her for it. We agree to meet before the funeral to exchange stories. Hers are great, but mine seem better. We both loved our friend. I will miss her, she says, and there are tears. I expect her to visit me in my dreams, so I remain silent. Afterall, the others have all come to me in this way.