there is nothing more unnatural than a parent outliving their child . death is inevitable in war, he knows this, but he never considered that he wouldn't be the first of them to greet the earth . and yet, dawn breaks with the sound of a mother's anguished cries, and a father's screams as he bows over the mangled corpse of their beloved son, as if he might still protect him from this fate . as if he might implore some higher power, if there ever was one, since he is no longer inclined to believe, to take him instead .
hours have passed since then, and the father's screams have since transformed into dutiful silence . he tells himself that he has to be strong, and so he makes himself strong . he tends to his family, wrapped in their grief, in each other, until they're all too tired to stand . until some have found sleep in their parents' bed, and some of sought solace in solitude . he is tempted to keep them close, to never let them out of his sight or mind again, but reminds himself that grief takes different forms . and that they can't stay locked in this room forever, try as he might .
once hannah, and all of their children, surviving children have accounted for, he takes a moment for himself . bereaved by the window, until he finally allows himself to break down, with only @crimsonsworn to witness .