My Condolences

Chapter 1 - One Life Ends, Another Struggles

Jareth didn't think the day would come, not this soon at least. The young man was pale, and thinner than usual as he gazed at himself in the mirror. The goth had pulled his raven hair back into a bun, having cleanly shaved the sides of his head. Dressed in almost all black with his dress pants, boots, and a thick pea-coat with a crisp grey button down shirt underneath - he found himself on autopilot as he descended the stairs of his home. Jareth grabbed his dark umbrella and made it out quickly to his old hearse looking impala before he could get soaked by the rain.

It took the fresh high school graduate a moment, before starting the engine and making his way to the only funeral home in town. Jareth hadn't attended a funeral in twelve years, this one being as traumatizing as the other. His beloved best friend, had passed away and he was expected to make an appearance. Getting to the parking lot, and coming to a halt he cut the engine and gave a deep sigh as he looked at the ragged ceiling of his car.

After what felt like an eternity, Jareth made his way into the funeral home while blinking rapidly as tears threatened his eyes. But he wrote his name in the guest book, and noticed his now incorporeal best friend. However he kept his head down as he approached the coffin, kissing his right index and middle finger before placing them along the closed coffin. Jareth kept his gaze down, even as the spirit moved off of the casket and followed him. Even with his now foggy best friend as his shadow, he acted like he usually did. From approaching his best friend's parents, to finding his seat in the back row the goth was silent and averted his gaze. Jareth heard the familiar voice of the boy whom was now no longer a physical being of Earth, and he wanted to ignore him. For the goth, it hurt that the spirit couldn't remember him but maybe it was for the best. They could have peace and move on. Right?

It took him a moment to realize that the room was practically empty. He felt some people may have been family members he hadn't yet met, and noticed some old school mates that he wished hadn't shown their faces. Jareth was trembling now, hooking his tongue ring by his teeth in an attempt to stop himself from crying. This wasn't the time or the place.

'Hmm, I wonder what your name is. Why are you so torn up about my death? Honestly, now that I'm dead, mourning seems a little foolish. We all die someday. Better to reflect on the good times we had than the ones we won't get to,' The incorporeal figure knew nothing, but rambled on just like his dearest used to do. Jareth was glad the other had come to terms with death, but the goth himself was still hurting from the loss. Now he was all alone. In his home, in this town, in the world. "You were my...best friend." He whispered it being almost inaudible to human ears, but loud enough to the passed on to make heads or tails of.

The incorporeal being had suddenly shot up like a bullet in shock as Jareth spoke to him. ‘Wait...can you hear me?!’ Seeing the spirit jolt beside him from his peripheral vision, he licked his lips. Jareth decided to just nod as he was asked if he could hear the other. Witnessing a nearby candle fade out from the energy and excitement radiating off of his passed on companion, it made him give somewhat of a smirk. Jareth expected that maybe the spirit was lonely, and needed recognition and guidance. The other appeared and sounded shocked to hear that he and Jareth had been best friends. Jareth didn't want to tell his deceased friend that he had in fact fallen deeply in love with him. Confessing his love for someone who no longer could revel in life, was heart wrenching nevermind feeling that way without a word. Being asked why the casket was closed, he was wide eyed and silent. Jareth wasn't prepared to answer this, and he had wished he didn't have to think about it ever again.

Jareth had started to cry, tears rolling down his face. He hid his face in his hands, and tried not to sob. It was killing him. Yes his best friend was free, no longer in pain. But it was leaving him in shambles. ‘I keep forgetting.. that I'm dead. You're probably still in mourning and I'm just over here asking you really insensitive questions. At least we still get to spend some time together still! And maybe when we aren't stuck in an open space like this, you can tell me some of the things we used to do, so we can hang. That way, maybe you won't have to tell me anything because I'll remember on my own and you can still spend time with me as I figure out this post-life thing.’ Jareth heard everything that was said to him, but he didn't soak in any of it. He wished the other had moved on and passed over. Being forgotten, asked tough questions, he wanted to crumble.

The service started, and Jareth sat in silence. What felt like a minute was a half hour service, and Jareth stood as he was asked to help carry the coffin holding his loved one to the hearse. He was tense, and stiff. Jareth was crying now, but he couldn't stop it as he grabbed the side of the casket and helped get his best friend to the hearse to finally see his last resting place. Once his job was done, he rushed to his car and slammed his fist on the dashboard as he started to sob uncontrollably. "Why?!"

Cars started to vacate the parking lot, and Jareth took the moment to cry his heart out. The last time he cried this much, was when he held the other during his last breath. It was so fresh, a vision he would never escape even as he closed his eyes to sleep. Jareth would forever see his beloved take his last breath, pale, the spark leaving his eyes. He tried to catch his breath, wheezing as his lungs were begging for air. A car horn blared, and Jareth flinched as he started his car and started to join the others in the procession.

Getting to the cemetery, Jareth parked and watched the rain hit his car windshield. This was like the end, this was really happening. It wasn't an awful nightmare, he was living this. "Everyone leaves, everyone." Clearing his throat, Jareth still felt the threatening lump in his throat. The lump that made him feel close to air deprivation. The goth grabbed his umbrella, and walked slowly in the rain to where his best friend would be laid. He stood among the small crowd, and eventually he was the last one standing there. Jareth looked blankly at the hole in the Earth, before rummaging through his coat pocket. Pulling out a half heart necklace, he looked at it before tossing it among the coffin. Jareth walked back to his car, opening and scrambling through the passenger compartment. Finding an almost empty container of bourbon, the underage goth took the last swig and grunted.