By Anonymous
To protect the author’s privacy, names and distinguishing characteristics have been edited.
It’s not every day when you hear someone say, “I met my boyfriend at a funeral.” This sentence is usually met with a furrowed brow or tense shoulders. You probably have the same look on your face, so let me tell you about my love story.
“I am going to set you two up. I am going to make it happen. No matter what it takes.” I used to laugh it off when Sue would tell me this, but now I know she really meant it. Sue is my mom’s larger than life best friend. When I was little, I thought Sue had superpowers because she could always make me feel better simply by engulfing me with one of her massive bear hugs.
One Thursday night, I came home to a dark quiet house, one that’s usually filled with my family bustling to eat, finish homework, and submit papers. It was not until about 11 o’clock that night when I heard the garage doors open. My heart raced as I ran down the stairs to see what had occupied my mom’s entire day. Her droopy, lachrymose eyes met mine, and I knew something was seriously wrong. We sat in silence for what felt like hours until I finally mustered up the courage to ask. Choked up, the only word my mom’s weak voice could say was “Sue.” She had gone into an unexpected cardiac episode.
Just a few days later, Sue passed away, and everyone was shaken to their core. The day she died, the world was gray and rainy. Absolutely miserable. At the funeral, I (why me?) was responsible for setting up Chinese Lanterns to release at the end of the night. Like Sue, Chinese Lanterns are a light source in the darkness.. It was one of her few requests for her funeral: Chinese lanterns to be released and “Seasons of Love” from the Broadway musical Rent to be played. As I began setting up the lanterns, of course I broke one. Though I felt clumsy and frustrated at the time, I now see that was just Sue’s way of working her magic. I called her nephew, Josh, into the chapel to help me. And it turns out he was cute, like really cute. We exchanged meaningless conversation, somehow fixed the lantern, and ultimately found happiness in each other’s company that night. We ended up releasing Chinese lanterns together — for Sue.
Josh and I have been dating for over a year now. We all miss Sue, but it’s not surprising that she made something good happen out of something so bad for all of us on earth. If it weren’t for those Chinese lanterns, I don’t think I ever would’ve ended up talking to him. I thank those lanterns and my clumsy self for messing it up every day.