WhiteSpace: Season One (Episodes 1-6 of the sci-fi horror serial) Read Online Free PDF Page B

all there was to know about being a good person, a great mom, and leading a wonderful life. Sarah Hughes is gone before her time, and will be forever missed.”
    Jon could see tears painting the sides of the faces of Sarah’s family at the front of the church; Cassidy, along with her mother, Vivian, and Sarah’s nine year old daughter, Emma.  
    Pastor Avery continued. “Sarah pointed her life toward everything that was most important to her, and everyone in this room would have to agree that her aim was true. A mother to Emma and a daughter to Vivian; confidant to her friends and a guiding light to her students; a true blessing to her sister, Cassidy.”  
    Jon was grateful for an excuse to stare at Cassidy, capitalizing on the opportunity. Though she was Sarah’s identical twin, the years had not been nearly as kind to her. While she didn’t look old, she was starting to look weary and jaded. She was still almost as beautiful as her sister, though, with long chestnut hair, green eyes, and Sarah’s porcelain, flawless skin. Jon felt as if he were looking at Sarah’s ghost, and a chill ran through him.  
    Emma buried her face in Cassidy’s chest. Cassidy pulled her closer and held her tighter, as if proximity would keep herself from surrendering to tears.
    Minister Avery smiled at Cassidy, waited for her to smile back, then continued.  
    “Sarah will always be remembered by her students as one of the best teachers they ever had, by her friends as truly loyal and wonderfully funny, and by her family as remarkably strong. It has been a joy to know Sarah, from the time she was a tiny child through last Easter as an adult when she sat with her hands folded in the pew, just three rows behind where the three remaining Hughes girls are sitting now.”
    Minister Avery gestured again toward the Hughes girls.  
    Cassidy managed to keep her torrent inside, but Vivian, never one to shy away from theatrics, erupted into a fountain of tears while Emma bawled between them. Seeing their grief, particularly the young girl’s, cut deep into Jon’s heart. He sniffed back some tears as the pastor went on about how we can’t know God’s will, but should find comfort that He has welcomed Sarah to the Kingdom of Heaven.
    Though Jon would normally roll his eyes at such a thought, he found an odd sense of comfort in the old man’s words.
    Pastor Avery then invited mourners to approach the front of the church one by one to give their farewells. Jon sat silently, heart racing, as Sarah’s co-workers, friends, and family spoke of her in loving memory. Hearing their words made Jon sad that he’d missed out on so much of Sarah’s life. It also made him wonder who would speak at his funeral. He had few people he could call friends. And the closest thing he’d ever had to love was now in a casket.
    He wondered if he should step forward to give a few words. Given their history, he feared that to not say anything would be an insult. At the same time, he didn’t want this to become about him. If he went up to speak, someone in the audience might shoot video on their iPhone and it would be on YouTube or TMZ within the hour. That was the last thing Sarah’s family needed. The last thing any of the mourning families needed.
      Jon stayed put, though he wasn’t sure if his gesture was kindness or cowardice. When it came right to it, he couldn’t bear to go anywhere near the urn holding Sarah’s remains. It was all he could do to look at the silver jar from the back of the church, where it was merely a shape.

    * *

    The memorial ended, and Jon did his best to blend in with the herd, which was nearly impossible with the dozens of eyes pretending not to stare. He shuffled behind the mourners, slowly drifting toward the hors d'oeuvres, waiting for the crowd to finish consoling Cassidy, as his heart filled, then broke with every fleeting glimpse of the small girl trembling by her side.  
    Emma looked lost, waiting for a mother that would