Disclaimer: Fox owns everything
A/N: Summer and Seth have been married for 5 years. Also, this may not be the most accurate portrayal of a burial ceremony but this is how it happens in my story.
Chapter 1: She Stands Alone
Dressed in black, she stands alone. 27 years old and her husband is dead. Alone, lost without her one true love.
"Hey Sum," Marissa Cooper's familiar voice comforts Summer.
Marissa is super-skinny, as usual. And she looks beautiful, dressed in a simple black Donna Karan suit. A forlorn looking Ryan follows her.
Ryan hugs Summer while Marissa stands there uncomfortably. Yes, she was Seth's friend, but Ryan and Summer both shared special bonds with Seth. In turn, they have a special bond with each other.
Marissa's engagement ring reflects the sunlight.
Summer winces.
And not because of the blinding sun.
Coop and Chino had their whole future together. The ring was another painful reminder of the life she would never have with Seth.
Summer starts to bawl. A grown woman of 27 shouldn't cry, she starts to chide herself. Oh, forget it, her husband's dead, she has the right to cry.
She buries her head in Chino's muscular shoulder.
"It's okay," he consoles her, and she thinks she sees tears forming in his eyes.
Embarrassed, Ryan quickly wipes his eyes. Marissa looks at him with such pride and love that he slowly lowers his hand. And it is then that he knows; it's okay for a man to cry.
In Chino, crying was a sign of weakness. But over the years, Ryan has learned that emotion is one of the most endearing forms of affection. And he also knows how dangerous emotion is when bottled up inside.
Summer feels a tap on her shoulder. It is the rabbi, ready to start the burial services. Seth had made Summer promise that if he ever died, she would bury him in a Jewish cemetery with a rabbi presiding.
Summer makes her way over to the open grave where all of the guests are assembled.
Sandy and Kirsten walk over to Summer and each takes one of her hands.
Marissa and Ryan are standing nearby, ready to offer their support.
All around Summer, old, familiar faces watch her with kindness and pity. They are all here for him, and this should comfort her. Yet she has never felt more alone in her life.
Summer scans the crowd for her father. He would miss this, would he? Anxiously, she stands on tiptoe to see the people on the outer fringes of the crowd.
Thankfully, Summer recognizes his graying hair and expensive suit. He is making his way over to her. She lets go of Kirsten and Sandy's hands and runs to hug him.
"How are you doing, sweetie?" Mr. Roberts embraces his daughter.
He has never seen her this distraught. This is not the Summer he knows. The Summer he knows is bold, courageous, and hides her emotion. He feels helpless. Mr. Roberts is used to controlling all situations. But he can't seem to get a grip on this one.
A hush falls over the crowd as the rabbi begins. His incantation of the ancient words does not last long.
************************Flashback to earlier that day************************* At the synagogue, Ryan, Kirsten, and Sandy got up to speak about Seth. They each delivered heartbreaking speeches. Ryan's was especially tear-worthy, talking about all the times Seth had been there for him. How Seth guided him over the years and really became a brother to him. How although Seth wasn't his blood brother, they shared a deeper tie. Friendship.
Other friends and family members spoke as well.
But when Summer got up there, with Marissa for moral support, she froze. Tears pouring down her face, she handed her speech to Marissa. Marissa read the speech for her.
"For the first 16 years of my life, I didn't know that Seth Cohen existed. If I saw him, I would pretend he wasn't there. Little did I know what an impact he would have on my life. He's treated me like gold since the first time I talked to him. I didn't deserve any of it. After all, he had loved me for the better part of his life and I hadn't paid attention to him for most of that time. But I'm so happy that I did. Because the person I met shaped who I am today. Seth Cohen made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in life. He became one of the most important people in my life. And now he's gone. I thank God every day for giving me 11 years with him. I just wish that I could have more. Even one more day." ************************************************************************
When the rabbi is finished, the crowd thins. Most of the guests will appear at the Shiva house* later that night or sometime during the week.
Only Seth's family and closest friends remain for the actual burial.
Summer chokes back a fresh wave of tears. She knows this will be the hardest part. Saying goodbye. Forever.
The casket is lowered into the grave and Summer squeezes her father's hand.
The hole is filled in.
This is it.
"I love you, Seth Cohen, forever and for always," Summer whispers.
Summer is not the only one saying a last goodbye to Seth.
Ryan is mouthing God knows what, his eyes tightly closed and Marissa's hand tensely clasped in his.
Sandy is crying and repeating, "Don't go."
Kirsten half shouts, "Why my son? Not this soon."
After a few moments, Mr. Roberts leaves Summer's side to offer his condolences to Sandy and Kirsten.
She stands alone.
TBC!
*A Shiva house is a Jewish custom when friends of the deceased come at night to pay their respects to the family. It is usually held a few nights in a row.
A/N: Summer and Seth have been married for 5 years. Also, this may not be the most accurate portrayal of a burial ceremony but this is how it happens in my story.
Chapter 1: She Stands Alone
Dressed in black, she stands alone. 27 years old and her husband is dead. Alone, lost without her one true love.
"Hey Sum," Marissa Cooper's familiar voice comforts Summer.
Marissa is super-skinny, as usual. And she looks beautiful, dressed in a simple black Donna Karan suit. A forlorn looking Ryan follows her.
Ryan hugs Summer while Marissa stands there uncomfortably. Yes, she was Seth's friend, but Ryan and Summer both shared special bonds with Seth. In turn, they have a special bond with each other.
Marissa's engagement ring reflects the sunlight.
Summer winces.
And not because of the blinding sun.
Coop and Chino had their whole future together. The ring was another painful reminder of the life she would never have with Seth.
Summer starts to bawl. A grown woman of 27 shouldn't cry, she starts to chide herself. Oh, forget it, her husband's dead, she has the right to cry.
She buries her head in Chino's muscular shoulder.
"It's okay," he consoles her, and she thinks she sees tears forming in his eyes.
Embarrassed, Ryan quickly wipes his eyes. Marissa looks at him with such pride and love that he slowly lowers his hand. And it is then that he knows; it's okay for a man to cry.
In Chino, crying was a sign of weakness. But over the years, Ryan has learned that emotion is one of the most endearing forms of affection. And he also knows how dangerous emotion is when bottled up inside.
Summer feels a tap on her shoulder. It is the rabbi, ready to start the burial services. Seth had made Summer promise that if he ever died, she would bury him in a Jewish cemetery with a rabbi presiding.
Summer makes her way over to the open grave where all of the guests are assembled.
Sandy and Kirsten walk over to Summer and each takes one of her hands.
Marissa and Ryan are standing nearby, ready to offer their support.
All around Summer, old, familiar faces watch her with kindness and pity. They are all here for him, and this should comfort her. Yet she has never felt more alone in her life.
Summer scans the crowd for her father. He would miss this, would he? Anxiously, she stands on tiptoe to see the people on the outer fringes of the crowd.
Thankfully, Summer recognizes his graying hair and expensive suit. He is making his way over to her. She lets go of Kirsten and Sandy's hands and runs to hug him.
"How are you doing, sweetie?" Mr. Roberts embraces his daughter.
He has never seen her this distraught. This is not the Summer he knows. The Summer he knows is bold, courageous, and hides her emotion. He feels helpless. Mr. Roberts is used to controlling all situations. But he can't seem to get a grip on this one.
A hush falls over the crowd as the rabbi begins. His incantation of the ancient words does not last long.
************************Flashback to earlier that day************************* At the synagogue, Ryan, Kirsten, and Sandy got up to speak about Seth. They each delivered heartbreaking speeches. Ryan's was especially tear-worthy, talking about all the times Seth had been there for him. How Seth guided him over the years and really became a brother to him. How although Seth wasn't his blood brother, they shared a deeper tie. Friendship.
Other friends and family members spoke as well.
But when Summer got up there, with Marissa for moral support, she froze. Tears pouring down her face, she handed her speech to Marissa. Marissa read the speech for her.
"For the first 16 years of my life, I didn't know that Seth Cohen existed. If I saw him, I would pretend he wasn't there. Little did I know what an impact he would have on my life. He's treated me like gold since the first time I talked to him. I didn't deserve any of it. After all, he had loved me for the better part of his life and I hadn't paid attention to him for most of that time. But I'm so happy that I did. Because the person I met shaped who I am today. Seth Cohen made me feel like I was the only thing that mattered in life. He became one of the most important people in my life. And now he's gone. I thank God every day for giving me 11 years with him. I just wish that I could have more. Even one more day." ************************************************************************
When the rabbi is finished, the crowd thins. Most of the guests will appear at the Shiva house* later that night or sometime during the week.
Only Seth's family and closest friends remain for the actual burial.
Summer chokes back a fresh wave of tears. She knows this will be the hardest part. Saying goodbye. Forever.
The casket is lowered into the grave and Summer squeezes her father's hand.
The hole is filled in.
This is it.
"I love you, Seth Cohen, forever and for always," Summer whispers.
Summer is not the only one saying a last goodbye to Seth.
Ryan is mouthing God knows what, his eyes tightly closed and Marissa's hand tensely clasped in his.
Sandy is crying and repeating, "Don't go."
Kirsten half shouts, "Why my son? Not this soon."
After a few moments, Mr. Roberts leaves Summer's side to offer his condolences to Sandy and Kirsten.
She stands alone.
TBC!
*A Shiva house is a Jewish custom when friends of the deceased come at night to pay their respects to the family. It is usually held a few nights in a row.