It was as if they understood. Or maybe someone was looking out for Puffy. She saw someone earlier, she cant remember but she's almost home and she hasn't been attacked yet. Usually there are creepers along this path at night. Regardless it's a small miracle. She couldn't imagine having to put Foolish down. What if a zombie got to him? What if a creeper blew up? What if it didn't actually matter because he's already dead? What if none of this matter at all anymore and-
the house came into view. The porch light was on, and so was the light in Kyle's room. For a moment Puffy thought she might throw up, maybe faint. She felt dizzy and Foolish felt heavy. She continued walking down the familiar path. Past all the flowers that would bloom tomorrow like nothing ever happened, past the crops Foolish would never help harvest again. Or would he? She cant remember what life he was on. She knows she knows but it's like the knowledge has been taken from her. She hears a sound, something guttural and grieving snapping her back to reality. It was her. Puffy blinks a few times tearing her gaze away from Foolishes face and looks around. Shes out the back of the house now, near the azalea tree that was planted when the house was first built. She doesnt remember walking here.
With a shuddering breath she gently lies Foolish on the ground and fixes his body. His arms are stiff but she's gentle regardless. Everything is red, her hands, her clothing, his clothing. Him. The realisation that it's everywhere, he's everywhere and she has to go back inside to Michelle and Kyle like this hits her like a punch. For a second she forgets how to breathe, now on her knees it's like her head is swimming. Swimming in her sons blood. Puffy turns and somehow Niki is there already holding out a bucket. Puffy throws up two, three times before pulling away. Looking back at Foolish everything begins to tilt, like the whole world has gone sideways. Puffy hits the ground immediately feeling the cool grass and Nikis hands on her side.
She can hear Nikis voice but not her words, regardless they're the wrong words. Muted and distant and not in the form of begging Foolish to open his eyes. A few moments past by and just like a switch going off in her brain everything stops. Technically everything snaps back, the crickets chirping are the first thing Puffy hears and then Niki.
"-at the window. He's watching Puffy. I can go inside distract Kyle. Make sure Michelle is asleep. You can-"
"Bring Foolish to his room." Puffys own voice over Nikis feels weird, unexpected. Right now she needs to be a mother, and not a grieving one. She has other children she needs to protect.