jack wasn’t here.

not really.

sure, he was sat in the front row of the church. he was listening as the priest droned on about how his wife was at peace now. how god had her. how this was gods plan.

its all bullshit.

people around him are weeping. people are sniffling. everyone is in black. robby is sat behind him, a strong support. dana is there too. his two closest friends. they had been there for him after she had passed, and they covered his shifts in the hospitals.

and they had also helped with you.

you were five, and jack’s daughter. you were sitting beside him, your little legs not even reaching for floor yet. jack wasn’t even completely sure if you understood what was going on, if you understood that your mom was dead. but you just kept your hand in jack’s, humming under your breath as the priest continues to talk.

jack wished he had the excuse of childhood ignorance.

but no. his wife is gone, and now he’s a single dad to a five year old girl.

they go outside. they’re getting ready to lower her into the ground, and jack wants nothing more than to bolt. to run away, hide and cry. cry and drink his sorrows away. but the little hand in his is grounding him, and so he stays there, watching and holding onto you as they begin to lower his wife and your mom into the plot in the ground.