Work Text:
Dina is unable to move. She stands firmly in place as she stares into empty space Ellie once occupied; listening to the wind move through the house. The only thing that gets her moving are the soft cries emanating from the master bedroom. Dina gently picks him up, hand brushing over his soft crown. She places a kiss on his head and murmurs, “I got you."
She can’t bring herself to think about it. To do so is to acknowledge that Ellie’s really gone. Instead Dina finds herself going through the motions. She spends her days taking care of the house, the sheep and most importantly, JJ.
He takes it worse than her. He cries all the time. He doesn’t fully understand it, but he knows he’s lost something. He begs for someone who may never come back. Dina can only hold him, hoping that she’s enough.
The sun is slowly dipping into the Earth, as she herds the sheep. There’s a small lamb that refuses to follow her goading. It prances around with an unbound excitement that can only come from youth. Dina’s frustration is quickly building. She’d spent the day scrubbing out throw up from the rug in the living room. JJ had recently gotten sick– a stomach bug she assumes– from what though she has no idea. There’s no one out here to even get it from. Afterwards, she’d made a pot of lamb stew and found herself drowning in leftovers; still used to cooking for Ellie’s appetite.
The foal still manages to elude Dina, tripping her up as she attempts to grab it. Laying on the ground with a throbbing ankle is when it sinks in. She is truly alone. Ellie fucking left her. Ellie left them. She’ll never hear JJ’s first word. When he takes his first steps, only Dina will bear witness. And when JJ grows up, Ellie won’t be there. The tears stream down her face hot and thick. Her loneliness is crippling but her anger is all consuming. It’s this fury that strengthens her resolve. Ellie may have given up on them but Dina refuses to do the same. Dina will be enough for JJ. She has to be.