a better son // The End of Erebus Turner

The cannon tore through the air before his body even hit the ground. There was no gasping for air or begging for a quicker end to the pain. There were no eloquent last words or gentle smiles as the ease of darkness overcame him. In the end there was only a dead child and that's all he'd be remembered for.

However, after death, the boy had a very different ending than the living would remember. Sitting in his living room back in District Five, he was surrounded by faces. They sat on the floor making shadow puppets with their single oil lamp that was on its last leg. Throwing animal shaped figures on the wall and giggling at the stories they made.

Eden's chubby, pink cheeks as she smiled.

They sat together, elbow to elbow, sharing stories and eating peaches from the tree behind their home.

Nocturne's goofy grin as he played the harmonica.

In this house, Erebus had all his fingers to bend in front of the lamp to make a shadow horse look like it was galloping. He had both his feet to dance with his sisters to the songs they sang together.

Mother's smile filling her face, making her look younger than he ever remembered seeing her.

There was always music, whether it was the strumming of a guitar or someone humming off key. Many people came and went as they pleased, but some... some stayed.

Lethe laughing so hard, tears ran down her cheeks.

Jokes and music rang through the house. There was always some joyful noise or another. Yet, the part of this life that Erebus loved the most was when his mother or his sister would pull him into a hug, holding him close as if to keep him out of danger. They'd wrap him in their arms and whisper into his ear.

"Erebus Turner, I am so proud of you."