t.g.

when the priest says he did not have an opportunity to know [the deceased],

that [the deceased] was not an active church-goer,

[the deceased] becomes a lost soul.

when the priest says [the deceased] struggled with his mental health,

and that jesus was known to

cast out demons that we now understand as mental illness, [the deceased] becomes possessed.

when the priest says [the deceased] tried to find therapy and pharmaceutical interventions, and

if only [the deceased] had succeeded, it becomes

[the deceased's] fault.

while the priest is saying everything but that he thinks [the deceased] would be alive if he had

found god,

you, oh, sweet [deceased's] brother, you are overcome with the great need to pick at the crevices of your phone

case. you, sweet man, can only look down while you gently rock

gently rock

gently rock.

when [the deceased's] father-in-law speaks for far too long and says

the faster you grieve, the quicker you heal,

we both know this man is not as in touch with his emotions as he claims to be.

when [the deceased's] father-in-law says he will never forget this moment

for the rest of what's left of his life, i can see on your face that this moment will always be more

than just a memory for you.

but when you stood to speak, sweet brother, you brought your kin back to life.

you effused his empathy, embodied his compassion, and understood his "boogeyman" so others might, too.

remember, dear brother, that he lives on in you.