The cemetery gates closed behind him with a soft click as he leaves. Kai's shoulders hunched against the chill of gray morning. The world outside felt distant, muted like someone had turned down the volume on life. He walked down the empty street, fists buried deep in his hoodie pockets. His mind spinning with the same question he had whispered at the grave. "Why did you take my brother away..? Why. Why. Why."
A familiar voice breaks through his thoughts.
"Kai.."
He stiffened. Caleb, his Christian bestfriend since childhood. Walking towards him.
"Dont." Kai said sharply without looking at him. "Just..leave me alone. Don't talk to me."
Caleb paused, raising his hands in a gentle, non-threathening gesture. "I-I'm not here to annoy you..i just.." he trailed ogg, unsure how to finish. "I just wanted to see if you're okay.."
Kai let out a humorous laugh, bitter and short. "Okay? How am I supposed to be okay? He's dead, Caleb. Dead. And all your prayers..faith, didin't do a single fucking thing."
Caleb's face tightened slightly, but his voice stayed calm. "Faith..isnt about getting what you want. It's about staying..even when it hurts. Even when it seems like everything is gone."
Kai whipped around, voice shaking with anger. "Staying? You think that helps? You think sitting there, pretending there's some..plan or purpose that makes losing him easier?"
"I'm not pretending." Caleb said quietly. "I-i just want to be here for you. That's all."
Kai stared at him, jaw tight, fists clenching at his sides. The memory of Elias's smile, the Sunday mornings, bible stories. It all felt like salt in an open wound. "You don't get it! You can't! Nobody can! He's gone, Elias! And I..i can't..i can't believe in him anymore! God didn't save him! God didn't do anything!"
He pauses, a moment of silent in the tension.
"Isn't God our saviour? He loves us, dosent he? He is our father in heaven. We worship him, and what does he give me? Elias's fucking death, right infront of my freaking face."
Caleb swallowed, keeping his voice steady. "Kai..i can't make it make sense either. But I know one thing. You're not alone..you don't have to face this by yourself."
Kai's chest tightened his jaw clenching. The words should have comforted him, but all he felt was the raw, hollow ache of grief. He wanted to scream, to shake someone, to make someone understand. But there was no one who could. He turned and started walking again, ignoring Caleb's footsteps beside him.
"Kai.." he calls out again. Kai looks at him with a glare, irritated before shoving him on the ground. "Leave me alone! I don't believe you! I hate you, get out of my life!" he screams the runs away.
Leaving Caleb in confusion, shocked and hurt.