As he stands on the Children's Burial Ground on
Solomon's Green, Corn is numb to the bone, pale as a sheet and slightly shaking. His parents are there with him, despite him telling them a dozen times it is fine. They didn't take no for an answer nor they believed him that all would be fine. God bless them. He really needs them. Maria listened to her family and didn't come. He is glad that at least she can spare that memory.
Some people have let it known that they think he is taking it a bit too hard, that it's not
that bad. He has met many families that had the misfortune of a miscarriage and they hinted he is overreacting. He lost his cool just once, asking Carol if she lost hers at the 33rd week, after getting used to the idea of the little guy and after going to the doctors for months to deal with the 'slight' complications. Whether she knew why stillbirth is a completely different bag than miscarriage. He didn't mean to shout to Carol, but he doesn't regret he did. Fuck them all. Whether this is overreaction or not, it is his burden and his wife's. This was not a deal going bad or an asshole scratching your car.
The fat priest says a few words and prayers as the box with the remains of his son are to be interned in the ground. Not a complete or proper funeral as the kid was not baptized. But at least the priest knew better than to give a sermon on that right now. His brother Vincent has used all his unpleasantness to make sure the priest would show up and do what he was paid to do without any theological objections about Limbo and Purgatory and Original Sin.
Nobody thought to ask how Theodore could pull strings on the Cemetery to have his stillborn child buried there or why he picked the place. He doesn't know why he picked Eulogy's cemetery either. Death Positivity... just a different state of being.
He can feel the humidity on his face ... his tired, bloodshot eyes shoot up on the overcast sky. It would be better if it was raining, but at the time he doesn't give a damn if people see his tears. They are the humane part of him.
The priest calls for him to say his last goodbyes. He is not ready to say goodbye.
He is not ready. He never had the chance to say anything
BUT goodbye. This was not fair. His parents move to hug him as his knees drop on the ground and he leaves a wail. He feels their arms around him like a warm blanket. His mother's tears hot on the back of his neck.
The priest gives the nod and the earth covers the box with the remains of his unborn child.
Presence
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