Auggie's POV:

The house phone starts ringing. I don't know who it is, but I have to answer because Mom's already at work, and Dad is in the bathroom.

"Hello?" I ask as I pick up the receiver. I recognize the voice immediately as Josh. "Uncle Josh? What's wrong?" His voice is shaky and rushed.

He stammers something over the phone, and I can't even believe him. My ears start ringing, and I sink to the floor.

"No..." I cry. "DAD!" I shout. I just keep calling his name, until he comes, and takes the phone from my hand.

"Hello?" He says blankly into the receiver. "Oh, Hi Josh..."

Topanga's POV:

"Topanga Matthews" one of my colleagues comes to my desk and puts his hand on top of my papers. "You're wanted out at front. Apparently you need to bring your purse."

"Well, probably one of my kids needs money again..." I close my laptop slowly, and pick up my bag. "I needed a break anyway."

I go towards the front, pulling my wallet out, but instead of a child, I see my husband's face on the other side of the caging wall, and he looks very disturbed.

"Cory?" I show down. "What is it?"

"Um..." He stammers, hands in his pockets. "Uh... Riley..." His voice stars to falter. "She killed herself." Now, he is fully crying, and I can tell it isn't the first time he's cried today.

"She jumped off a bridge." He manages. "She's gone..." he looks down at the floor.

"I... I need to go." I whisper.

"No. NO!" I start to rattle the caging, and try to open the door, but it won't budge.

"Help me..." my husband joins in trying to open it, and I hit the button repeatedly, but it just buzzes rudely. "Help Me!" I shout. "MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD LET ME OUT!"

Our hands interlock through the caging.

Maya's POV:

"Wait...slow down! What's wrong?" I yell calmly into the phone. Josh is stuttering very rushedly, and it seemed really urgent. I try to keep calm to help him calm down, until he tells me the news.

Suddenly, I'm the only one in the world. I slam down my phone, and run outside and throw my bag onto the floor carelessly. All I can do is scream, until I have no voice left.

I hurt her.

I left her.

I could have helped her.

When I have lost all breath and energy, I just fall onto the floor. I feel so lifeless, there isn't anymore meaning.

Cory's POV:

It feels wrong to be putting on a tie for your own daughter's funeral. Dressed in black, it reminded me of Mr Feeny's funeral one and a half years ago.

Back then, I was devastated. My mentor, the one who got me through my life, wasn't here anymore. I thought that was the worst feeling ever. I knew nothing, it seemed, because what I am feeling now feels a thousand times worse.

I turn to Topanga, who straightens the tie around my neck, and a tear rolls down her cheek.

Topanga's POV:

"The death of a loved one is always tragic." The funeral man announces. "But the death of a young person can be particularly painful, because that person had her whole life ahead of her. Riley was only 18 years old, we can never know who she could have been, or what she could have accomplished."

This entire speech seems to be directed towards us. Towards me. I feel like everyone wants to blame me. I wants to blame myself.

"Riley was a good young woman, but she was lost. By giving into temptation, she strayed. Then, disillusioned, she chose to end her life. Now we know to condemn the sin, not the sinner. It was this sin that Riley succumbed to. It led to her unhappiness, and it led her to take her own life. As goodness begets goodness, so does sin beget sin." I didn't want to listen anymore.

Cory and I stood up, some family and friends following, and I led them to the coffin, which had a picture of happy Riley on top of it. I lay a rose on top, then bowed, and let my husband follow suit.

My mom actually came home for the funeral. I haven't seen her in a few years. She, being the one to teach me to believe so strongly in the Bible. She comes into the kitchen with an empty bowl, as I chop the food.

"You're running low on sandwiches." She says, placing the plate in front of me.

"Mom, do you think Riley got salvation?" I ask, ignoring her demand.

"I don't know..." she comes around the counter to stand beside me.

"Suicide is a sin." I stare blankly into my chopping board. "But maybe god knew she wasn't in her right mind... I mean if, why would god allow riley to go to hell if it was in his power to cure her?" I ramble.

"I don't know, Topanga. Pull yourself together! People are uncomfortable enough." she grabs the plate of newly made sandwiches and returns to the lounge.

A/N So it has been ages but now I'm not that busy (for a short time) so I thought it would be the perfect oppeortunity to get some writing in. Watching over this scene and writing this chapter genuinely made me cry. Hope you felt it too.