The coroner's report says that Trisha Elric died on September ninth, 1478. She left behind two sons, untouched save by her death.
This is off by about a year and a half.
Edward watches his brother watch the young nurse who'd given Edward his shot earlier. Most people couldn't tell where Alphonse looked.
Most people.
The doctors pronounced her cureless on January 14, 1478. This is off by about a year.
Edward argues with his brother when he says the nurse- Clara- is just like mother. Says that she's nothing like their mother. He's not lying.
When Alphonse was told that she was cureless he screamed and screamed and screamed.
But Edward made no noise at all.
Alphonse is rhapsodizing about Clara- about their mother- and Edward finds himself trying to steer the conversation away from parents all together. They both disagree about their father, and thinking about Mother- about Trisha- makes Edward go silent, and that frightens Al. He doesn't want Al frightened.
But he doesn't want to lie anymore, either.
Alphonse believes that he spent at least one night and four days out of every week at Winry's house. She was his best friend after all, and Edward liked staying home with their mother.
This is off by about five more nights and two more days, and back then Edward didn't let himself feel much of anything at all.
Alphonse comments that he thinks his memories of her are fading; that he remembers spending time with Winry more then time with Trisha, that he remembers the Rockbells home better then he remembers theirs. Edward points out that Alphonse had seen the Rockbells house more recently and that it was common for memories from such a young age to dull with time.
Edward has many scars; automail scars and knife scars and even scars from bullets and other projectiles. He also has three decent size ones on his shoulder.
When asked, he says that he forgot to duck.
Alphonse wakes him in what would be tears on any other being and Edward finds himself incapable of anger, though fear and hurt and frustration have taken up residence in his mind once again.
Maes Hughes only brought up Edward's mother with him once. They were in his kitchen and Alphonse was out back playing with Elysia. He slid a file across to Edward and asked whether he had taken a thorough physical exam to make certain that he hadn't contracted some form of it. Edward had studied the file for long moment before he spoke.
Alphonse doesn't realize until Edward climbs into his bed that he's woken his brother. Edward rushes to speak before he can start apologizing.
He speaks of their mother in terms he's never even thought. He tells Alphonse of games and light and compliments and warm laughter.
He patches together a fairytale woman from glimpses and good days, carefully removing and tucking away every thrown dish, every slap and every curse directed at a man long gone; he creates a lie for the only person he still loves.
"This disease has six symptoms that appear before it becomes untreatable. And my mother was dead long before she stopped breathing."
Alphonse is asleep now and Edward sits in a silent room, forcing his eyes open against tears on a pale face and the phantom pain of a limp hand clutched in his own, hating his father.
The coroner's report says that Trisha Elric died on September ninth, 1478. She left behind two sons, untouched save by her death.
This is off.
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.
Author's note: I have no idea what day Trisha Elric died, nor can I find a way to find the year; honestly, I can't even remember what time period the series is set during, and I have no clue on how to go about finding out. If you know, please tell me; if you don't, please don't yell at me.