Free Severed Angel by K. T. Fisher, Ava Manello

say.
    Dropping to my knees in front of her I reach for her hands. "Sue, I'm so sorry." My voice sounds thick with emotion as I struggle to get the words out.
    She looks at me and what I see has me loosening my grip on her hands. Her face, that once looked at me with such kindness, is now twisted with hatred and she begins screaming at me. "Why did you have to come here?" She pushes me away then falls back to the bed, defeated. "If you hadn't come he'd still be here. He would still be alive." Giving me one last hateful look she throws the cut at me. "Get out! I can't stand to see you right now."
    Holding the bloody cut in my hands, tears fall down my face. I walk slowly out of Sue's room and she bangs the door shut behind me. I sob as I clutch Elvis's cut to my chest. Elvis is dead because of me and the grief overwhelms me. I don't care where I am or who sees me, I collapse on the floor, letting grief consume me.
    ***
    Gabe
    I fucking hate funerals. I'm not an emotional man but funerals are hard, especially when the person who died is as important to me as Elvis was. Today is going to be difficult on all of us. Elvis was an integral part of the club. Everyone liked him. He was larger than life and this club won't be the same without him.
    I knock once on Prez' door. "It's time Prez."
    The door slowly opens revealing a silent Teresa. She's wearing a black dress with her hair pulled to the back of her head. Her face is white, too white. I hardly recognize her. There's none of her spark left. Standing in front of me is the shell of the woman I know. The death of her dad is proving tough on her. I pull her into my arms. She's stiff and stays silent, rejecting my comfort.
    Prez comes out dressed in black jeans, a black button down and his cut. The outfit matching mine. He reaches for Teresa's hand and she takes it. She's moving in slow motion and Prez leads her out. If he hadn't I don't think she would have been capable.
    We head out front of the clubhouse, the hearse parked by the entrance. A couple of cars for the women in the middle of a crowd of bikes. Elvis knew a lot of bikers and had stayed with other charters when he travelled around. Those bikers that knew him so well have come to support us today. All of the bikes are lined up at the rear of the cars with Dragons, mine and Prez’s bikes at the front of them all in true biker tradition.
    Prez helps Teresa into the first car with Sue. I don't see Eve in there. Looks like they're still not speaking to her, which is pretty sad. From what I've seen Eve is hurting just as much. Putting Eve out of my mind I follow Prez to our bikes. We're still on edge with Satan trying to get hold of Eve, but he would be fucking stupid to try anything today with this many bikers around.
    Fuck, I wish this day was over with already.
    ***
    Eve
    I stand at the back of the crowded church, unsure of my place in the proceedings. I hate funerals. I'm lucky to have only had to endure a few in my life. None of them as close to me as Elvis or hurt this bad. Teresa and Sue still can't bear the sight of me so I came here in a car with some of the other old ladies. They couldn't stand the sight of me either. I sat in silence on the way with my head down, tears dripping down my face.
    The minister is talking, but I haven't a clue what he's saying. The coffin is positioned in the middle of the aisle, to the side there's a photo of Elvis. His head thrown back in laughter which brings a small smile through my tears. That's how I want to remember him. Full of laughter and love. Instead all I see is the gaping bullet wound in his head. His eyes lifeless and Teresa's screams accompanying the memory.
    Sue and Teresa are in the first pew. Angel and Prez to either side of them. Sue's quietly sobbing while Teresa keeps muttering no. Repeating it over and over. She twists the handkerchief in her hand the whole time. I have a feeling that if she stops she will crumble. I wish I was sitting with her, so we could share