Wormie

Court didn't like this. He didn't like graveyards. He's so fucking sick of having to go to them. Everyone he's ever loved and known seems to end up there long before Court ever thought they would.

Court stepped through the entrance of the graveyard, staring at the ground, and walked slowly through the columns and rows of headstones. It was a foggy day, no one was around—at least as Court saw— and Court was holding on tightly to a bundle of forget-me-not's and daisies.

Court stared down at the flowers and remembered the conversation he'd had with the woman at the flower shop. He'd initially stepped into the store and gone still, unsure of what to do with so many options and no idea where to start.

The woman had taken pity on him, came over, and asked what he needed. Court had told her that a friend had passed, and she winced in sympathy.

The woman hadn't offered any insincere condolences, just directed Court to some flowers that might suit his needs. Eventually, after far too much thought, Court decided on daisies and forget-me-nots.

As he looked down at the flowers now, they almost looked sad. Maybe he was just seeing things, but the flowers looked like they were bending down dejectedly. Like a dog ducking its head down when it was scolded by its owner. Like when a child ducked their head down to cry into their hands.

Court sighed and looked back up at the gravestones. He knew where the stone was. He'd checked the maps first and made sure he knew the exact location long before setting foot inside this place.

Court saw the headstone at a distance and bit his lip. He wouldn't start crying now. That would just be pathetic.

He closed the distance quickly and stopped a few feet in front of the stone. It was beautiful. The perfect gleam of marble, even in the crummy weather. Henry would've approved.

Court crouched down in front of the stone as he read the name on it over and over again.

'Henry Letham'. His baby brother. Court outlived his fucking baby brother.

Court placed the flowers down gently in front of the stone, making sure the petals wouldn't get crushed into the grass.

His vision suddenly blurred, and Court sat down on the cold grass as he began to cry. Fuck.

Court sobbed into his hands, uncaring about how vulnerable he was to an attack. He could only think about his brother. About how his training wasn't enough to save Henry. About how Court wouldn't have been able to save Henry regardless of whether he'd been there or not.

Court probably would've died in the car with his brother… A part of him wished he were in the car just so he could die with Henry.

Court cried loudly and heard his sobs echo back to his ears as the sound traveled through the trees and open space.

It didn't matter. The only people who'd hear his sobs were beneath him, and he had a feeling they were used to such a sight.

Court wiped his eyes with his sleeve and looked back at the stone.

He froze.

Court wasn't a… spiritual person by any means… but something was staring at him intently.

A butterfly. A beautiful, delicate blue butterfly was sitting on top of Henry's headstone.

It fluttered its wings at Court, almost as if in greeting, and Court's jaw dropped.

"Oh," Court mumbled and then said a bit louder, "Hi…"

The butterfly fidgeted in place, almost like it was thinking, before it opened and closed its wings slowly. Even in the dim light, its wings shone brightly, and Court was entranced by the beauty of the patterns on its wings.

The butterfly shuffled on the stone, and Court came back to the present. "Sorry…" He mumbled to it.

The butterfly brushed two of its legs against its eyes and then stared at Court.

Was it…? There's no fucking way.

"Okay…" Court said skeptically but listened to the butterfly. Oh, good, he's officially lost it. Listening to insects.

Court wiped his eyes of tears, helping clear his vision and right himself. He felt better now that his face was drier, and when he looked up, the butterfly shuffled on its legs, like it was dancing.

Court felt his lip twitch upwards. Nothing like trying to make a butterfly happy.

Court watched the butterfly take off and land gently on the bundle of flowers he'd laid before the stone.

He watched it inspect the petal, touching it gently. Its wings fluttered before it turned and flew directly at Court's face.

He wanted to move his head out of the way or swat it, but part of him wanted this to be something more than an insect getting curious, so he stayed still.

The butterfly landed gently on his nose, and Court tilted his head up so it wouldn't fall.

Wonder how crazy he'd look to a sniper if one was watching him right now…

Court smiled as he felt the butterfly's legs spread over his face. The blue shine of its wings made him feel relaxed, and he exhaled deeply out of his nose.

The butterfly spread its wings out fully for a moment, gripping his face as tightly as it could before suddenly taking off and flying away.

Court watched the butterfly as it flew between trees for as long as he could with a sad smile on his face.

God. Maybe he looked pathetic, but that… Henry.

Court felt tears well up in his eyes again, and he looked back down at the headstone. "Thank you," He murmured to it as tears fell onto the grass.

As sad as he was right now, Court knew he had to keep going. Keep living. If not for himself, then for his brother. For Henry. For the butterfly that clung to him when he needed it most.

Court wiped his face off again and started to rise to his feet. A whine off in the distance stopped him.

It didn't sound human, but he instinctively reached for his gun.

As Court rose to his knees, a small snout poked out from a gravestone a few columns down from Henry's.

"Oh," Court whispered to himself.

What the fuck.

"What the fuck?" Court asked, confused by the sight of a puppy in the graveyard.

The puppy trekked up to him happily, wagging its tail as Court watched it in shock.

The dog fell as it tripped over a branch, and Court rushed forward to catch it so it wouldn't fall on its face.

He felt the dog in his arms. It was tiny. Small enough that he could hold it in one hand.

Court looked the puppy over but didn't see any wounds or signs of abuse. Maybe it was just lost?

A kiss to Court's nose pulled him from his thoughts, and he pulled his head away from the puppy's as it tried to kiss him again.

Court smiled slightly and cradled the puppy to his chest. "Too cold for you to be out," He told it as he brushed a hand over its back.

The puppy yawned loudly, and Court snorted at the high-pitched sound. "Well, aren't you a character." Court cradled the puppy's head against his chest and let it relax against him. "Remind me of someone…"

Court thought for a moment. "Using me as a pillow, whining at me 'cause you're tired, sneaking up on me…" He rattled off to the dog as he petted it gently. "Sound just like him."

Court looked up at Henry's grave and then back at the dog. Oh shit. Court sniffled as he felt more tears form and hunched over the animal, bringing his head down to rest on the puppy's.

The dog whined at him when it noticed Court's tears and started licking his face. Court didn't stop crying but shushed the puppy as if it were the one in distress.

Court cried as he held on tightly to the puppy for a long time before finally growing exhausted.

He looked down at the puppy. Maybe this was a gift. Just like the butterfly.

Court lifted the puppy in its arms, watching its big eyes watch his every move, and stood up.

The puppy wiggled in his arms, and that's when Court noticed that the puppy in question was a girl. She wiggled in his arms happily, and Court tucked her into his jacket, keeping her out of the cold.

Court looked down at Henry's grave one last time and nodded. "Thank you…" He didn't know what else to say, how to say what he wanted to say, so he turned on his heel and began walking back towards the entrance of the graveyard.

The puppy licked his arm cheerfully as he moved, and Court stared down at her with a sad yet content expression.

Henry had given him this gift; he had to have…