Chapter Text
Violet Afton sits on a bench outside, staring heartbrokenly at her daughter's grey marble gravestone which read In Loving Memory of Elizabeth Afton, 1972- 1985. She wore a velveteen V-neck black dress that reached her legs for the occasion along with a pair of Amethyst encrusted teardrop-shaped earrings.
Another gravestone lies beside Elizabeth's, belonging to another child she lost two years back, slightly weathered with age. Inscribed on it were the words Forever with the Lord. Evan Afton. 1974-1983.
Her leaf-green eyes are wet with tears, concealed by a black net-like veil that rests beneath a similarly coloured fascinator hat.
Above her, the grey sky rumbles with thunder, signalling incoming rain but she doesn't care. She only plans to leave when she feels like it. Everyone was gone by now and she was certain she'd seen the last person leave but....it seemed there was one other person who didn't quite leave either.
He had offered her condolences earlier for losing her daughter for he had suffered the same loss years ago and as the funeral went on, he had been observing her from afar as he couldn't bear being close to the crowds.
"Violet?" A shaky voice called her name.
The woman turns her head around to see a dark-haired man in a black formal jacket walking towards her with a tangerine-coloured umbrella dotted with little teddy bear patterns. A poppy flower was clipped to his right breast pocket and untrimmed stubble was visible around his chin.
"Oh, Henry? You're still here?"
"I was concerned. William wasn't around and neither was his car and you were just standing out here without an umbrella so I thought maybe, you would need one in case it rained while you were...mourning Elizabeth. I only have one umbrella in the car sadly so I hope you don't mind if we share it." Henry sits on her right before continuing to speak, "You can grieve for as long as you want until the rain shows up and I'll wait for you for as long as you need".
"Thank you. That's really kind of you Henry".
"Speaking of which, where is William?"
Violet grimaces, "My husband claims to be very busy as usual. Something came up at Afton Robotics and there was a last minute emergency meeting with a Sponsor at Fazbears. He prepared the funeral like Evan's though, paid for everything too and yet once again, he himself didn't bother to show up as he has 'No Time'. It's just me giving speeches, crying alone and yet for some reason, he shows up for you at Charlotte's Funeral. Why?"
"William doesn't like funerals so he hates going to them often." Henry explained to her, "His own family died in a car accident years ago and he was traumatised from attending the ceremony. Try to have some pity for him Violet".
"I can try to understand that but it bothers me that he was also never there when our children were born. I was always alone in that hospital room and crying but there was no one except a midwife to comfort me and hold my hand as I gave birth to the three of them. And now he can't even show up for two of their funerals. How fucked up is that?!" Violet seethes, her lips trembling, "My own husband didn't show up for their births or deaths! I'm starting to doubt that he cares for them at all...What if–What if he never shows up at my funeral?"
Violet sobs, her cries becoming louder and louder, but Henry says nothing as he places his left arm around her, performing a gesture of comfort in the place of speaking comforting words (which he was rarely good at).
Violet appreciates the gesture and suddenly leans into his left shoulder, turning her head burying her tear-streaked face into it. Henry is stunned but accepts it, allowing her grief to stain the cloth of his shirt for several minutes.
"And- and do you know what's even stranger?" Violet whimpers.
"What?"
"I'm not sure if you noticed during the funeral but...Elizabeth didn't have a glass coffin like Evan did. Seems whatever the murderer did to her left her in such an unsightly state that William couldn't get the morticians to fix her body or bear to look at her. So she was buried in a plain wooden coffin".
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No... I just find it odd that he didn't splurge on her final resting place. Elizabeth always went on and on about how her Father loved her and yet he can't even show her that same amount of love back by being here or affording her a more lavish funeral like he did with Evan".
"That is strange but I don't judge what William does. He has his reasons. We all do and sometimes these reasons have to be kept secret. Perhaps one day, he'll tell you..."
Henry abruptly looks upwards as he feels the pitter patter of raindrops hit his head. As a child, Henry loved to play in the rain with his sister but, ever since the death of his beloved daughter and his wife Flora who died under similar circumstances, the weather only served as a grim reminder of the happy family life which was robbed from him.
And now, with Violet suffering from the loss of yet another child, Henry felt deep empathy and pity for William's wife.
'She must be in a worse state than me.' Henry thinks to himself, 'This is unfair. Why is life so unfair to the two of us...especially her'.
"Damn." Henry curses aloud, "Vi...I know I said I'd stay with you until you were ready to leave but, I think we should leave. Now. We'll catch a cold if this drizzle gets stronger." Henry stands up, "If you would let me, may I drive you home or take you somewhere...drier to grieve?"
"That's nice of you." Violet dabs away her tears, "Thanks again Henry".
Henry opens his large umbrella and Violet steps under it with him. As they briskly stroll back to the carpark, Henry's eyes did not lose focus on her for even a second while he ensured she stayed in the shade as the raindrops fell heavier around them....