I wrote this for Jillian Snair, A family member of mine who died along with her mother, Charlene, this past Sunday. Charlene's one-and-a-half year old daughter was taken off life support on Friday, and died Saturday morning. We made her a tribute on Youtube, if you want to see it, just type in 'Jillian Snair' in search. I also have newspaper articles if anyone is interested
With You
Roy Mustang stood rigidly, his head bowed like so many others around him. Even the majority of the civilians of the town called Risembool had gathered 'round that afternoon to let the sadness and gentle music control them for a short period of time. He heard the sobbing of a young Elric beside him, but could do nothing to ease his pain. He made no attempt to hold back the tears that fell as he stared at the two graves sitting side-by-side underneath the tall oak tree. A mother and a son, gone before they knew they'd left.
He put a hand on the shoulder of the blond, rubbing the red fabric with his thumb. It didn't seem fair. But life was hardly ever fair. That these this poor boy had his only remaining family members just wiped from underneath his nose, with the guilty feeling that he was not with them. But no one could tell when these things happened, they could happen to everyone.
"But why did it have to happen to him...!" The teary-eyed boy cried, his knees hitting the ground as his gloved hands grabbed the soft grass.
"Why him..." He sobbed, causing another wave of tears to wash over the Colonel, full of pity and self-loathing as he watched the poor boy. He'd always wanted to protect them, like the father they never had, but he was nowhere around when the life of one was threatened to the point of non-existance. He felt like dropping to his own knees, as well. He heard the Rockbell girl crying behind him, and her grandmother had to lead her away from the sullen graves to calm her down.
Trisha had been like a mother to Winry, just like Ed and Al. The boys were her brothers, and like children to the rest of the community as well. The small town had raised the three children, and the generation before had raised Trisha like a daughter of their own. So many lives had been affected by the death of a mother and child, it made you want to shout out-
"Why? Why..." The boy's red-cloaked shoulders shook, and the dark-haired man couldn't take any more of it. It broke his heart. He bent down and pulled the boy into a small, awkward hug.
"He's in a better place-"
"No! No he's not! The best place for him is here! With me! Why isn't he here? Why isn't Mom here...?"
Roy stood up, pulling the boy up with him and began to walk away, music still echoing somewhere in the background.
"Why did he have to leave...Why, Nii-san?"
Roy hushed Alphonse gently, towing him away from the crowd, but couldn't help thinking himself as he looked up into the raining sky;
Why?
R.I.P Jillian Paige Snair
September 22nd, 1992 - January 14th 2007
