And now as the limo pulled slowly around and made a complete stop, the funeral director once again opened the door, and the uncommon smell hit my noise at once. I took in a big whiff without thought, I knew exactly what it was.

I stepped out in front of a prepared grave site. The air was brisk and cold, as was the company that surrounded me in the distance. I took a quick glance around just to be sure, and their she was sitting on a tomb stone, legs crossed and a big ass smile on her face.

Belinda, I thought to myself. She waved at me when she heard her name, but I did not wave back.

Tony stood behind her with both hands in his pockets. He smiled, but he didn’t wave. The grave yard was full. I didn’t see everybody, but then…I didn’t want to, for fear I might bust out crying at any moment. I tried to keep my focus on the living… On the real things around me.

The flowers were being brought down from the funeral car as a small crowd of people began to gather around the grave site. How strange it seemed that William and I would be the ones here in front like this after all we had already endured with Belinda .Yet I felt it was only right for us to be there to do what was right and humane. Besides,it had not been our choice, it was ultimately Belinda’s last request.

In the far corner of the grave tent all dressed in black stood Belinda’s closest friends Troy, Gretta and Denise. They wore fur coats with matching hats and diamonds flashing in the midday sun. Whispering among themselves as they looked on in astonishment. Mostly looking down their stuck up noses and very pleased with themselves inspire of the fact that their closest friend was being laid to rest in a gravel grave. It was a bit surreal and yet all too true to be denied, like something out of a dream. A secret that she had kept from them until the very end. Now huddled around one another they began to share their thoughts.

“Oh Troy,Who would have thought this would ever be, and for William to take care of everything, what an amazing man he is.”

“Yes Gretta I agree, I have never seen anything like this before.”Troy said as she pulled her coat closer to her body.

“I think Liz’s brother is buried here too, you know all this started with him.” Gretta looked around trying to spot Tony’s grave as she spoke.

“Over here,” Tony shouted, waving his hands in the air and teasing Belinda with a dance as they continued in the distance.

“Well actually, if the truth be told, Belinda started all this herself just like always. It’s just hard to grip the reality of it all. It seems like–like a dream. I keep thinking I am gonna see her walk up behind us any minute now and start fussing and cursing about how things are not going her way. Then I realize that’s not gonna happen.” Denise lifted her head up to the sun and dappled her face with a tissue.

“Yea, I wonder what she must be thinking now, If we could turn back the hands of time, I wonder if she would do things differently.”Troy sniffed as she rubbed her nose with a black handkerchief.

“Knowing Belinda and the way she is…was. She would not change a thing. I remember the day we met, she was a bitch from the start, but something about her just drew me closer to her. She always knew exactly what she wanted in life, and she didn’t stop until she got it.” Denise hugged Gretta and placed her head on her shoulder as they all walked closer to the grave site.

Belinda and Tony laughed as if the conversation amused them. Then they slowly walked away and out of sight taking everyone who came and the uncommon smell with them. I did not realize how strong that smell was until they left. It was like my nose had been stopped up and now it was open again. I took a deep breath of fresh air. William knowing exactly what had happened, glanced at me from the corner of his eye, and gently rubbed my hand…

We were seated with Belinda’s Mother and Grandmother on the front row.The rest of her family followed in the rows behind them. As the preacher gave the last rights and placed a long stemmed white rose on the casket he read the poem I had provided..