Prompt 172, Bear or Bare, "Memories"
Title: Memories
Author: gretchen8642
Series: Manga/Brotherhood
Word Count: 477
Rating: pg
Characters: Elysia, Gracia, Roy
Summary: she doesn't remember her father
There’s a great big bear on her bed that she’s had since she was three. Her mother likes to tell the story of that birthday party- how happy her father had been, how that had been the first time they’d met the Elric brothers...
There’s a gleam in her eyes when she talks about that birthday, and more often than not the story ends with Gracia Hughes picking up the small portrait of her dead husband and smiling at it.
The bear used to be bigger than Elysia, but she’s grown just enough that she’s a bit taller than her furry companion. She doesn’t remember that party. She doesn’t remember her father being happy. If it weren’t for the pictures in their house, she wouldn’t remember what he looked like.
Her mother tries to keep him alive in their memories as best she can... talking about how they met, how much Maes Hughes loved his daughter... And Roy comes over sometimes, holds her mother’s hand and remembers the man who was his closest friend.
“He was brave, and smart, and the kindest guy you’d ever meet. He loved you more than anything. He loved you more than life itself.”
She wonders why he died, then. Not for her, surely, but for Roy Mustang’s dream... Elysia tries not to think about her father dying. She doesn’t want that night to be the only thing she remembers clearly.
The bear on her bed looks at her with big button eyes, and she buries her face in his fur and breathes in deep. She used to think it smelled like her father. She can’t remember his smell, but surely it doesn’t. It’s too old. The bear’s forgotten him as well.
She can’t remember his smell, or the way his hands felt, or the sound of his voice.
“He loved to laugh.” Her mother promises, but she can’t remember him laughing. “He loved to hug you, and you’d always complain about his beard being scratchy.” Her mother smiled, and Elysia frowned.
Now and again Gracia would go out on a date with another man. It had been so long after all, Elysia needed a father, Gracia was still a woman, she was lonely... it never worked out. Elysia didn’t want to ask why.
Every few months they visit his grave. Sometimes Roy comes, often they find he’s been there already. Gracia talks to the cold stone slab and Elysia tries to count how many dead people there are in the cemetery. The earth is cold, and Elysia wants to go home. Her father isn’t here, but her mother talks to him anyway.
Elysia locks herself in her room when they get back, burying her face into her bear’s white stomach.
She doesn’t miss her father. How could she?
She doesn’t remember him. She doesn’t know him.
It hurts more every year.
Author: gretchen8642
Series: Manga/Brotherhood
Word Count: 477
Rating: pg
Characters: Elysia, Gracia, Roy
Summary: she doesn't remember her father
There’s a great big bear on her bed that she’s had since she was three. Her mother likes to tell the story of that birthday party- how happy her father had been, how that had been the first time they’d met the Elric brothers...
There’s a gleam in her eyes when she talks about that birthday, and more often than not the story ends with Gracia Hughes picking up the small portrait of her dead husband and smiling at it.
The bear used to be bigger than Elysia, but she’s grown just enough that she’s a bit taller than her furry companion. She doesn’t remember that party. She doesn’t remember her father being happy. If it weren’t for the pictures in their house, she wouldn’t remember what he looked like.
Her mother tries to keep him alive in their memories as best she can... talking about how they met, how much Maes Hughes loved his daughter... And Roy comes over sometimes, holds her mother’s hand and remembers the man who was his closest friend.
“He was brave, and smart, and the kindest guy you’d ever meet. He loved you more than anything. He loved you more than life itself.”
She wonders why he died, then. Not for her, surely, but for Roy Mustang’s dream... Elysia tries not to think about her father dying. She doesn’t want that night to be the only thing she remembers clearly.
The bear on her bed looks at her with big button eyes, and she buries her face in his fur and breathes in deep. She used to think it smelled like her father. She can’t remember his smell, but surely it doesn’t. It’s too old. The bear’s forgotten him as well.
She can’t remember his smell, or the way his hands felt, or the sound of his voice.
“He loved to laugh.” Her mother promises, but she can’t remember him laughing. “He loved to hug you, and you’d always complain about his beard being scratchy.” Her mother smiled, and Elysia frowned.
Now and again Gracia would go out on a date with another man. It had been so long after all, Elysia needed a father, Gracia was still a woman, she was lonely... it never worked out. Elysia didn’t want to ask why.
Every few months they visit his grave. Sometimes Roy comes, often they find he’s been there already. Gracia talks to the cold stone slab and Elysia tries to count how many dead people there are in the cemetery. The earth is cold, and Elysia wants to go home. Her father isn’t here, but her mother talks to him anyway.
Elysia locks herself in her room when they get back, burying her face into her bear’s white stomach.
She doesn’t miss her father. How could she?
She doesn’t remember him. She doesn’t know him.
It hurts more every year.