79 He’s Here With You
“He’s Here With You”
Sung to the tune of
“He Lives In You”
Lebo M. Version
From Disney’s The Lion King 2
Sitting here, I am surrounded by flowers, blossoming with the benevolence you shared throughout your life. A reminder of the love you brought to so many. Each petal symbolizes your kindness and remarkable charm. Each stamen is packed with the pollen of your style and wisdom.
The grieving boy was trying to keep his composure. Surely there were already enough tears already being shed by the fellow mourners at this funeral to float Noah’s Ark … he didn’t need to fall apart, too.
Deep breaths, Miles. You can make it through this…
The shattered child sat rigidly in his seat, unable to reciprocate the unfamiliar but not unwelcome feel of Raymond Shields’ consoling arm around his shoulder the whole time. On his other side, Detective Tyrell Badd discreetly wiped a stray tear onto his sleeve and rested the other burly arm around the back of the boy’s chair, trying to maintain the stern dignity of his office but unable to suppress his emotions any better than the late lawyer’s subordinate.
Miles kept it together until they passed a picture of Gregory to everyone and that’s when all the memories came flooding back like a tidal wave. His father’s face seemed so alive and happy and he couldn’t help but wonder what he looked like under that closed wooden box. He stared blankly at it, hoping in vain that a miracle would happen and he would rise again and come back to the world, come back to him.
But nothing happened.
Gregory Edgeworth was gone.
I don’t know if there’s a heaven or not, but if there is, that means that Father is with Mother again, so hopefully, that means he’s happy…
When the tears came, hot and endless, Miles knew they were for himself too, for the child that would now be forced to become an adult overnight; for the pain entering his world without the decency to knock first.
He pulled out his handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his face so he wouldn’t be a total mess. Somehow, he managed to make it through the service without making a complete scene, but as soon as it was over, he was overwhelmed with his grief and rushed to the empty men’s room, where he leaned against the sink and sobbed as though his heart was breaking.
I never experienced grief this bad before. It all started when I lost my Mother. It sneaked up on me quietly and took me under its arms in an instant. But I was only five at the time, almost too young to remember her, so it still didn’t feel as bad as this.
The awful hollowness, the waves of wretchedness threatened to engulf his mind, body, and soul as the salty tears flowed unchecked from his eyes, down his round cheeks.
This is so much worse because since we lost Mother, all I had was Father. It was just the two of us, and it was good. He loved me, and I loved him. I am lost because I lost an even bigger part of me. My world and my hero. I was going to grow up and be just like him! Now, every memory plays like a song in my head, repeating itself for what seems like forever. I can’t get that part back and I want it so bad as my life depended on it but it is all gone, vanished in thin air…
“Oh, Father!” He sobbed. “Father, why did you leave me?!”
“Miles?” A soft voice came from behind him.
It was Raymond. The boy hadn’t even noticed Gregory’s assistant’s presence – he’d been too lost in his own misery.
“I’m so sorry, Miles,” The young man lamented, squatting down so the boy could see the lachrymose dark eyes. “This is such a terrible loss. I didn’t know your old man as long as you did, although it was long enough to know he was a great man. But as much as I adored him, he was your father, and there is nothing I can say that will make you feel better. However, just know while it’s OK to be sad, also try to remember that if you keep Gregory in your heart, he’ll still be alive inside you. He lives in you. And even though you may feel like he’s gone, as long as you keep his memory alive, he’s here with you…”
In the name of, in the name of father
In the name of, in the name of father
In the name of, in the name of father
In the name of, in the name of father
Fight! In these moments of strife.
World crashing
All around you
(Yes, it’s hard)
All around you
So much grief, and you’re only a child
Sorrow
All around you
(Yes, it’s hard)
All around you
Everywhere that you go
Every step he’ll guide you
Weight of your sorrow is great
(All around you)
Boy stay strong, and keep faith
(All around you)
(All around you)
Keep faith
It’s hard,
(All around you)
It’s hard,
(All around you)
It’s hard,
(All around you)
It’s hard,
(All around you)
He’s here with you, in memories
From heaven he’ll cheer your victories
He’ll guide your pathway to the courtroom
With each objection; he’s here with you
In the name of, in the name of father
In the name of, in the name of father
He’s here with you, in memories
From heaven he’ll cheer your victories
He’ll guide your pathway to the courtroom
With each objection; he’s here with you
He’s here with you
The weight of your sorrow is great
Boy stay strong, and keep faith
(All around you)
Keep faith
He’s here with you, in memories
From heaven he’ll cheer your victories
He’ll guide your pathway to the courtroom
With each objection; he’s with you
He’s here with you, in memories
From heaven he’ll cheer your victories
He’ll guide your pathway to the courtroom
With each objection; he’s with you
In the name of, in the name of father
In the name of, in the name of father
He’s here with you
In the name of, in the name of father
He’s here with you
In the name of, in the name of father
“I can’t say when it will get better, but it will get easier,” Raymond promised, his arms wrapped around the weeping child in a consoling hug. “I went through this myself when I lost my own mom. I was around your age. At first, I thought grief was something bad that takes you six feet under, but I’ve since been learning that it’s just the price we have to pay for loving someone.”
Feeling slightly comforted by both the song and the commiseration, Miles closed his streaming eyes and briefly rested his head on the man’s shoulder. While he returned the hug, his heart sent a silent message to his father that he now instinctively felt Gregory could hear.
Everything in life is recycled, or so that is what I see with these eyes. The atoms of one thing become those of another. The energy from one place becomes energy in another. So, while I have no idea where you are now, Father, or what God asked you to become next, I’m looking forward to the day when I can be with you again and I feel your love so strongly in the ether. Whether we call it reincarnation or recycling, I’m okay with whatever. You are still somewhere, out there, up there, watching over me, and that’s what matters to me. And as long as I carry you in my heart, you are not gone – just out of reach for now. I love you, Father. Forever and always…
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