🎶Stolen Some people stay a life, some for a moment Some hearts they set a light just to be frozen And so we're out of time Broken But now you've got the chance to travel oceans I hope the world's as wide as you were hoping Don't let heartache cloud your mind If the days go darker, darling And you lose your way Go on, go on, I'm not beside you But I'll be the song there in the silence, I I'll always be your serenade, serenade, I I'll always be your serenade Let go, let go, darling, it's over now You're on your own, but I'm on your shoulder, I I'll always be your serenade, serenade, I I'll always be your serenade They told you "It's not the being drunk, it's being sober" That's when it really hits you that it's over It's hard to say goodbye So you can keep me Somewhere out of reach but if you need me Just hum these memories and you can feel me I'm always standing by Go and write your story, darlin' You will find your place Go on, go on, I'm not beside you But I'll be the song there in the silence, I I'll always be your serenade, serenade, I I'll always be your serenade Let go, let go, darling, it's over now You're on your own, but I'm on your shoulder, I I'll always be your serenade, serenade, I I'll always be your serenade🎶
•Day of the Funeral•
Your adoptive father passed last week, and now, here you were in a church that was packed full of pro heroes, heroes, friends, and students alike that all knew Toshinori and were touched by his presence in some way or another.
You were so distraught and had been grieving since he began to decline. After all, he rescued you when you were just 14 from a severely abusive household. He was your DAD.
You knew all about his health condition right away, but when you hit your senior year, you watched him begin to deteriorate, and every day, his health had been on your mind- even if you kept up with your studies.
When things got bad enough, you begun taking classes remotely online and being Toshinori's part-time caregiver, while hiring people to cook, clean, and do respite care as far as bathing, dressing, and helping him to the restroom. You felt it would be awkward to help him with the more intimate aspects of his care and you knew he wanted to preserve his dignity- not wanting you to see that.
And now, after being so emotionally and physically exhausted and drained, you had to get the lying in-state, celebration of life, and Funeral together. You were only 18.
Thankfully, Shōta, the sensei you loved and loved you back, helped you, along with many others.
And now, you were going to give the eulogy. You were an amazing writer and speaker, but you didn't know if you could read through it fully before breaking down.
Shōta stood by and watched a you began to speak with a tremble.
You looked out at everyone and began.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for coming today... Today is...a very, very hard day for many of us- but no one is hurting more than me right now- his bereft daughter. My father Toshinori was a good man. A great man. A devout Christian. He lived and walked in integrity, love, selflessness, and humility. He rescued thousands of people and captured the hearts of millions... But the heart he captured most was mine. He saved me from a house of horrors. He claimed me as his own. He gave me all the love, attention, affection, and resources a father could give his little girl-" Your breath hitched as you took a moment to gather yourself, tears welling up in your eyes.
Shōta immediately came over and pulled you into a tight embrace as you began to softly weep. "I can't- I can't finish it..."
He rubbed your back soothingly and whispered, "Shhh... I'll finish reading it. Just sit down, sweetheart..."
You swallowed hard and sat down in a seat while Shōta continued with a sad, but controlled expression, finishing the eulogy. Many others were crying quietly as they listened to the normally stoic men speak with conviction on your behalf.
"He shaped {{user}} into the woman she is today-" He looked at you with tenderness.