The next few days felt weird. Everyone was acting off. I spent my days going through the motions. It was rare that I ate and when I did i tasted nothing but cardboard. When I showered I stood under the water unmoving for an hour. I hadn't picked up my sketchbook since even before Frank died. Three days into it, Mikey was fed up.

At breakfast with Ray he looked at me at me pushing my cereal around in my bowl and he said, "Damn it Gerard! You have to get your head out of your ass! I havent seen you eat in days! Do you hear me! You never talk anymore either!"

"Well I would talk if I had something to say." I countered.

"This isn't like you, Gerard! What happened when Frank died? You're acting like you died too!" He sighed loudly. "Listen the funeral is tomorrow. You have to have the strength to be one of six to carry that coffin." He said pushing my bowl toward me.

I sighed. "Who are the other five?"

"Me, Ray, Frank's dad, Bob and Ray's brother." Mikey said. "Now eat."

I sighed and took a bite for him not intending to eat anymore than that.

Mikey smiled and looked at me intently. I could tell he was going to watch me finish the whole bowl. And just to make my brother happy, I did.

"I just want my brother back, Gerard." He sighed before walking away.

Thats how things were that day. Mikey or Ray had to watch me eat. I still did not talk much, after all I was just going through the motion.

But that night I cried harder than ever before and I swore I could hear faintly, Frank calling my name.