Falling Capricorn by Dallas Adams

funeral was, in fact, taking place. He floated in the corner of the room, observing with wide eyes. There weren’t a lot of people there, from the requests of his parents. It was a cold day, and Joey’s eyes softened as he saw Eric and Christen who stood side by side.
    “Oh Christen,” he mumbled to himself, seeing exactly what was keeping him there. The engagement ring hung around her neck, hanging from the necklace. He also noticed her painting that sat next to what he presumed to be his coffin.
    The painting was filled with blacks, blues, and white dots. It was the day on the beach, when he proposed to her. The waves were dark and sullen looking, crashing into the sand. Some places sparkled when the waves hit just right, while other places were pitch black. The sky was also dark. One nearly couldn’t tell where the water and sky met if it wasn’t for the radiance that shined from the moon. The white stars sparkled even, with a soft shine of light around them. It was a gorgeous and detailed painting.
    Joey’s coffin was closed as his parents spared their family and friends the pain of what had happened to him. Was it painful? Was he in pain for a long time? Christen couldn’t help but wonder. Eric was rather quiet like always, sighing as the pastor started to speak of the man he didn’t even know. It killed Joey to see everyone like this, but his eyes were most focused on Christen. She played with the ring, as if feeling close to him. How much pain was she in? It made the pain he had just experienced seem like a memory watching her desperate fidgeting.
    The pastor’s voice droned on as Joey continued his watch before the pastor looked at the audience. "Now Joey’s father will say a few words,” he announced.
      Joey’s father came up to the front. The wrinkled man gave a slight smile to everyone. His blonde hair was faded to a sandy gray color, but his blue eyes were still very bright. He was a happy-go-lucky man just like Joey, and also rather imp-like. He was a lot like his father. Joey’s mother stood up straight as his father walked up; as if supporting him, and also trying to remind him to stay strong. They promised each other that they wouldn’t hold onto the past.  It was said that being missed is what keeps a person who has passed from rest.
    “My boy Joey…so many words come to mind when I think of him. He was a compassionate and friendly boy; always making others smile and happy. He gave it his all for everyone else without a want in return. He was childish at times, and a bit foolish. He was a bit of a daydreamer, but he lived life the way he wanted to.” The man stopped for a moment, licking his dry lips. Joey felt tears threatening to escape him. They nearly did when he realized his father also had tears brimming on his dark ringed eyes, but he pressed on.
    “He was going to get married to a beautiful girl and they were going to have amazing grandchildren. He was going to be one of Eric’s partners, and build an amazing art gallery. His dreams are gone with him, but his lessons to us are not. He wanted everyone happy, because focusing on anything else… that is what creates wars. It’s what creates pain and misery. He wanted us all to live by his simple way of living, to live to be happy. To be happy with what we have, happy for the friends and family we have, and to be happy just to be alive. So I beg of you all….” tears couldn’t help but escape him. His youngest son of age fifteen walked up and gave his dad a hug, giving him support to continue. “I beg you all to live life well and appreciate all the good things in life… that’s what Joey would have wanted for us.” With that he broke down, hugging his youngest son. His wife got up and hugged him as well with tenderness. Seeing the family like this brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
    Joey wanted to run up and hug his family. He longed to hold them all close to him. He wanted to scream to them that he was right there, but he