The laughter faded.
“Cancer took so much from him. His hair. His strength. His privacy. His ability to go places without planning around a hospital appointment. It took the future he’d imagined and made him fight for every ordinary day.”
He swallowed.
“But this was his choice. He chose the joke. He chose the color. He chose the promise he wanted me to keep.”
Theo looked at the coffin one final time.
“So, Jack, I kept it.”
He tugged gently at the red fabric.
“I hate this dress.”
A young woman at the back called out, “You look great!”
Theo closed his eyes.
“Emma, please. I’m trying to have a serious moment.”
His sister laughed.
The entire room erupted.
For the first time that morning, people laughed without immediately apologizing for it.
Theo smiled through his tears.
“Thank you, Jack. You win, you absolute idiot.”
Then he stepped away from the microphone.
