Jean's Journal

Entry #93

Day: 1st
Month: April
Year: 857

One thing is clear. Paradis is no longer safe for us. To be honest, I'm still in shock from the events of the past few days. The hardest part was breaking the news to Connie's mom, who was grateful that she had at least one of her children still alive. Under the cover of night we sent Onyankopon, Reiner, & Falco out to bring her back to the ship in the harbor, were a Connie was, the evening after he died. I think she already knew what was happening when she came aboard. She didn't cry, scream, yell, she just asked "where's my boy?". We weren't sure if it was a good idea to show her his body, but she was insistent. We took her down to the medical bay and pulled back the sheet, Connie's face was already pale and he was cold as ice. The doctor on board had done a really nice job of cleaning up the bullet wound, and I could swear he had a slight smile on his face. Mrs. Springer placed a small kiss on his forehead and whispered that she loved him & was so proud of the man he had become.

She asked for some time alone with Connie and we quietly filed out of the room.

An hour later, Mrs. Springer joined us in the common room, where Armin was pouring tea for everyone. Her eyes were red and puffy. Armin immediately sat her down and pour her a cup of tea. "So...what happened....how did he die?" She asked weakly. We all looked around at each other not sure who should answer, but before I could speak up, another voice cut through the air. "He....*sniff* he died protecting me". We all turned to see an exhausted Annie at the door. "I....he...the shooter was clearly aiming for me", Annie said tearfully. "Screamed something about revenge for his brother, and I know he wasn't talking about Connie". "But he pushed me out of the way, it all happened so fast...and I'm so sorry". At this point Annie broke down into tears. "Connie didn't deserve to die like that, it should have been me, I deserve to pay for my sins, for all the people I hurt and all the people I killed". "Connie lost everything in this war and just when he got some of it back, he dies, protecting a monster like me". Annie had fallen to her knees, the tears flowing harder and harder.

We all froze, not sure how to handle the situation. Then Mrs. Springer slowly got up and approached Annie. She knelt down and took her face in her hands. "Sweetheart...it's all right. I'm not angry at you, you aren't a monster, you were someone who wanted what all of these kids wanted, to go home, I'm glad you weren't harmed, and I am so proud of Connie for doing what he thought was right and trying to protect someone close to him" she said softly. She pulled Annie close to her, as Annie continued to sob and apologize, which was uncharacteristic of Annie. "Shhh honey it's ok, everything is fine, everything will be ok, no one is angry at you". Annie finally pulled away, her face stained with tears. Mrs. Springer looked at her, "In war we are all victims, there are no winners or losers, so that's why we still need to work together, to try and bring peace to the world".

Armin and Reiner managed to get Annie back on her feet. Armin poured her a cup of tea and escorted her back to her room for some much needed rest.

"I want to bury him here, next to Sasha if possible", said Mrs. Springer as she sipped her tea. "Those 2 were so close in life, they deserve to be close in death". "That's going to be a bit tricky to pull off, but I think we can manage" said Pieck. "But it will have to be a brief burial, under the cover of night", I said. "With armed guards" Reiner added. "Good, Connie always talked about that girl in his letters to me, and when I was a Titan, he would come by and he would always talk about her. He was devastated when she died, & I couldn't do a thing to comfort him". She sighed, "they had plans, for after the war, quite house in the woods, he said she was going to teach him to hunt, but I guess they now can find their little piece of Heaven together".

I spoke up, "Mrs. Springer, Connie was an incredible solider, and friend, and giving his life for another is a very admirable way to die". I wasn't sure how she would react to that last part. But, to my surprise, she gave a weak smile. "You're right Jean, I'm devastated at losing my last child, but I'm proud of who he became and who he was, and I'm proud that he was willing to lay down his life to protect a friend". A few tears rolled down her cheeks, "I'm so proud that he was my son".

We continued our tea in silence, until Armin slipped back into the room. "How's Annie?" Pieck asked. "Asleep now, after some tears and just a flood of emotions", Armin replied. "Makes sure she gets some sleep" said Mrs. Springer. She then turned to me, "so who is the mystery gunman that killed my son"? I sighed, "he's more of a kid to be honest, about 14". "Honestly the situation felt super eerie to when Sasha died". I paused, talking about Sasha's death still brings a lump in my throat. Armin spoke "Based on what we have learned about him, he's a radical Jeagerist,  his brother had been in the Corps, in the Special operations squad with captain Levi, he was brutally killed by the female Titan" "which was Annie I'm presuming" interrupted Mrs. Springer. "Yes she was the female Titan, killed a lot Corps members during the 57th expedition outside the walls, about about 6-7 years ago, including all of Levi's Special operations squad".

"He most have been a young kid when they brought his brothers body back, spine broken, bloodied", Armin continued. "The seed of revenge must have been planted then, and just fulled but the radical ideas of the Jeagerist"

"What's his name? This kid who killed Connie" ask Mrs. Springer.

"Aden....Aden Bozard"

-Jean Kirschtein