CHAPTER (IV)

The silence that took over when Phil went up to give his speech was deafening. He didn't mind the hundreds of eyes following him from where he had sat.

At the front were three caskets holding whatever remains of the Torre's family that were salvaged from the accident. He stood between them and rested his arms on two of them, his mom's and dad's, he shut his eyes for a whole minute then moved to his sister. The other two caskets were completely closed as the fire had consumed their faces, Stefanie's was still intact. He looked at the pale motionless body of his dead sister through the viewing glass.

"Even in death you still look stunning dear sister." He whispered as a tear fell from his eye and onto the viewing glass. He stood there for an entire two minutes just staring at Stefanie. 

He took a deep breath and walked up the few steps on the podium and turn to the crowd. His voice, when he finally spoke, was strong and firm yet filled with traces of overwhelming sadness.

"Thank you all for being here today. It means a lot to me and my family." His gaze shifted from the crown to the three caskets in front of him. "My father, mother and sister were the most important people in my life. They were incredible people as we all know and it is very unfortunate that they were taken from us far too soon. "

"My mom was one of the kindest people I know, she was so warm with all of us. Her laughter could fill a room, and her love was boundless. She taught me and Stefanie how to be strong, how to be compassionate, and how to face the world with courage." He paused and glanced at the crowd for a second then went on. 

"My dad was the rock of this family, and one of the most hardworking people I know. He was an awfully busy man but he always managed to find time with us, every single day he would make sure he is home in time for dinner and tuck in Luna after reading her the same bedtime story over and over again." 

There was a soft chuckle from the crowd and a smile played at Phil's lips as he thought about the memories. 

"He was a good man, a man of his word, he never let us down as a father and as my mentor. I look up to him and I hope I will be able to follow in his footsteps and live up to the example he set." He paused again before turning to Stefanie. 

"And Stefanie, my beautiful sister, my confident, my best friend, my partner in crime." There was another soft chuckle from the crowd. "You had an unbreakable spirit and an infectious zest for life that I always admired." He looked at the people looking at him and went on.

"We got in so much trouble together, but she always covered for me. Whenever mom or dad would scold us she always took the blame without second thoughts." Phil smiled and looked at her casket. "You were always there for me and I promise you, I will always be there for Luna. Give her the love you gave me and care for her as you cared for me."

"It pains me so much that I'm never going to experience life with any of you again. God knows I would give anything to spend another day with all of you. Thank you for the unconditional love you gave Luna and I, the unwavering support. The pain of losing you is indescribable, but life has to move on. We will carry on, not because we have to, but because you would want us to."

He then turned to the crowd and said, "Thank you all for being here once again." 

He took a deep breath and walked down from the podium, stood by the caskets for another minute and proceeded to take his place next to Luna. 

"That was a very beautiful speech." Lionel whispered to his ear. 

****

Three days after the funeral, Luna was yet to come to terms to what had happened to her family, she wasn't talking to anyone yet, besides Phil.

Phil on the other had had become distant, he now preferred his own company over anyone else's.

A knock on his bedroom door is what pulled him from his thoughts.

He turned to the door and watched Lionel walk in. Phil really appreciated him, he had dropped whatever he had going on and had been there for the two of them in all of it, it meant a great deal to him.

"Rebecca and I have been talking and we think it's best if you and Luna moved in with us."

"What!" Phil exclaimed.

Lionel was quick to counter. "It's just a suggestion Phil and you don't have to make up your mind now." He told him. "We think a new environment will be good for the both of you, it might help in the healing process as compared to staying here where everything reminds you of them. Plus, you are both too young to be living alone."

Phil was silent, so Lionel went on. "Think about it, ok?"

That night, he went out for dinner with his friends. He had shot down the idea immediately when Jamie brought it up. 

"Ho can I be out with everything that's going on? I need to be with Luna." He protested. 

"You should go out because of everything that is happening." Ashley said. "You need to take your mind off things, siting in your room all day won't ease the situation, and Luna will be fine for a few hours." 

It took Ashley more than half a hour to convince him but he finally agreed. 

Jamie had picked the venue. A posh restaurant in Manhattan New York. They got there a little after 7:30 and were directed to the lounge they had earlier booked.

Throughout the evening no one dared to bring up anything that would remind Phil of the accident or the loss of his family, he had been doing well.

"…what about the company?" Ashley had asked as the main course was brought.

"There's a meeting with the board on Monday." Phil informed them. "To discuss the future of the company." He added.

'T-Corp' was the company. A renewable energy company owned by the Torres family. Phil's father had sat at the top and had been overseeing everything else, but he was no more and change was inevitable. 

Naturally, Phil would be the one to take up the role but he just wasn't ready. He was in still high school for crying out loud.

"Who will you appoint?" Iris asked. She was Jamie's sister. Half-sister to be more precise.

"I'm thinking Leo." Phil answered. They didn't talk much about the subject, mostly because there was nothing to talk about. They were mere teenagers with no experience in the corporate world.

The dinner went on and the drinks came in. They drank into the night and Phil unconsciously told them that he would be moving in with Lionel and his family.

That sobered everyone up. "What!" Ashley exclaimed.

"Yeah, he mentioned it and I think it's best for Luna and I." He told them.

"What about New York?" Jamie asked. "You have lived here your entire life, you're just gonna pack up and leave?"

"I think its what's best for Luna and I. A fresh start could be really good for both of us. Away from all this." He explained.

They were all shocked by the news but they didn't put up a fight. They all wanted to convince him to stay, promising to figure it all out but they knew he made sense. It was only logical for him and Luna to move in with Lionel. They need the love, support and comfort of a family; they would get that living with Lionel and his family. 

A normal dinner with friends turned to a goodbye dinner party for Phil. They had all been friends for so long and it was a huge hit for one of them moving away for the other side of the country.