I'll go with you upon ships across the seas, seas that exist no more; I'll revive them with you.
It was, actually, a beautiful morning. The sun seemed to have risen early, lighting the blue and white of the sky in a way that made it known there wouldn't be any storms that day. The grass was green and smelled fresh-cut, the dew glistening and not ready to leave. All across the nation, people were beginning to set out or set up for their Day of Remembrance, giving thoughts and prayers and thanks to the soldiers who had died, and for those who still lived, whether they were home with their families or overseas. Xavier's was doing the same, in a way.

White chairs were set up in rows before the makeshift stage in the memorial garden outside of the school. Thanks possibly to Laura, the flowers were all in full bloom, highlighting the strange placement of the day in the year. A memorial for those who had died, in the middle of the earth's highest point of life. Maybe it was supposed to be comforting, or perhaps just a reminder. Life goes on, and life can still be beautiful despite all of the death in it.

By 9:15, everyone was seated. There was a noticeable absence, though, new to this ceremony. The front, right-hand row was empty. It had been sectioned off as people were filing in, reserved in spirit for the members of the school who were no longer with them. Some faces from the audience were absent as well, people who couldn't bring themselves to come or didn't want to. The Intruders lined the back rather than sitting, shadowy presences watching a tribute they'd never had on their own, but could appreciate the value of all the same. On each seat was waiting a flower and a small piece of paper, with Frye's poem written on it.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

Xavier moved to the podium, not needing a microphone as his words echoed out mentally to those in attendance. It was kept simple, and short, but would feel like he was speaking to each attendee personally, rather than to the group as a whole. The words were what one might expect -- geared towards remembering those they'd lost as they were in life, not in death. Remembering what they'd lived for and valued and wanted for others, not allowing pain to take hold and twist things. It wasn't just the dead that were being mourned, though. There were lives that had been irrevocably changed forever, people like Adrien and Rogue, Sadie and Kevin, whose powers had placed them back in isolation. People like Scott and Lorna who had lost someone so close to them that it felt as though their own lives were slipping away. Even simply the humans around them, who had suffered a blow to their sense of natural security, who now had worries and suspicions in place that they hadn't before. To them, Xavier brought out the words of Marianne Williamson, made famous by Nelson Mandela. Words of hope and a reminder that they did still have in them a goodness that needed to be shown, if they or the world were to heal from what had happened.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

It was announced that instead of simply markers for those who had died in these attacks, there would be another sculpture added to the garden, created by Kevin Ford. For now, the marker made for the base of it sat in its place, the words of Shelley inscribed on it -- 'Peace, peace, he is not dead, he doth not sleep. He hath awakened from the dream of life.' Instruments from the music room began to play, powered perhaps by Luce or maybe by Cal, Zinman's Adagio For Strings moving across the garden as, one by one, those seated came up to put the flowers down next to it. Once through, anyone who wanted to come up and speak was welcome to.


[Open to all! Feel free to tag reactions, or if your char gets up to speak, etc]