Cody didn’t really think anything would come of it, he didn’t think it’d have consequences. No, not really. But, it was happening anyways. It really happened.

The pastor of his church was the speaker for the memorial service, for someone in their church. A boy his age. Seventeen. And only Cody and his friends knew why… and would never be able to tell anyone.

He was gay and he and his friends had bullied him, made fun of him. Now he was witnessing the result of his actions, of what he had done. It felt like he was watching it through a screen, like it didn’t even happen. But it did…

The family and friends eventually carried the casket out and to the graveyard. The pastor said a few more words before the casket was fully lowered, the parents crying harder as flowers were tossed inside.

After an hour or so of visiting, Cody, his parents and his siblings went back to the suv. He just sat there in the second row, siblings in the third. It was a long drive home.