The December day was overcast and cold by Carolina standards. It wouldn’t have mattered too much, but the funeral was a graveside service, which was because no church in Columbia would have opened its doors for it. No church in South Carolina would have wanted it there, for that matter. Not in light of recent events.

Jacqueline came with me to the funeral with her hair down and a smile. I suppose she didn’t feel too much remorse about what she’d done. The law didn’t really care either, since killing was usually considered a crime. Not in her case. They called it a mercy. Jacqueline called it both the easiest and most difficult decision of her life.

Under different circumstances, that would have sounded really clichéd and corny, but given what had happened…well…it was true. And the clipped tones of the minister woke me from my mental tangent.

“Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today…” That was the only part of the funeral I really listened to. I already had a vague idea of what was going to be said with a frown. “Poor kid, tortured soul, soul rest in peace,” blah blah blah. And once he was finished, he’d hold the frown for his family and closest friends and then he could smile again. Hell, he could grin with all his yellow crooked teeth showing for all anyone cared. That’s what everyone else was doing. That three-day reign of terror over the University had vilified our friend in their minds, and there was nothing that anyone could do for the real person.

I looked at Jacqueline, who was obviously not listening either. Her clear blue eyes were intently watching a wren hop around on the branches of a nearby tree.

His story is kind of like Carrie, when you think about it. The person was nice, good-natured. But there was something else growing inside them. It may not have been a tumor, but you can’t tell me it wasn’t cancerous. It was evil, looking for something to unleash itself on. And it sure as hell found it.

But instead of using pronouns, I think I’ll just go ahead and tell you what the hell happened. Sounds pretty fucking good to me too.