Remember me

Victoria (part 1)

TWs: NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE, INFANT DEATH.

Yawning, Anni-Frid opened her eyes, pulling the covers up to her chest. Then she blinked, as she had no clue where she was.

She could smell a familiar scent on her body, so cautiously sniffed the shirt. It seemed this triggered something for her, for Frida suddenly recalled the events of the day.

"Benny?" Her voice sounded tired still, yet unable to mask her nervousness and slight confusion. There was no response, so she tried again, with similar results.

"BEN-NYYY." Frida slowly climbed out of bed, gently placing her feet on the wooden floor.
Frida creeped out of the room and after getting lost for a good minute, she finally located the top of the stairs. Clambering down, she reached the halfway point when she heard a voice call out in mild surprise.

"Frida!" There was a joy in his tone that she hadn't heard for a very long time. Scared, Frida jumped out of her skin, tumbling forwards.
"FRIDA!" Benny lept to catch her, stumbling slightly when she leaned against him.
"I'm okay. I'm fine, really." She smiled resolutely, though clung onto his arm tightly even so.
"You're sure?" He gently brushed her fringe out of her face, wanting to see it in her eyes.
"Yes, I am. God, it's freezing even for summer right?" She tried to divert the subject.
"No it's not Frid, you've got a cold remember?"
"Oh, of course!" She accompanied that with a cute little sneeze. "I should go make some herbal tea, would you like some? How I ever got a cold in summer I'll never know." Frida left Benny standing in the hall, busying herself with the kettle. He watched her from afar, ready to catch her if she needed him.

"What are you doing?" She twisted her head round in confusion.
"Waiting for my herbal tea." He replied in an low, soft voice that made Frida blush.
"You sound like a man from the dark ages." Frida scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"What?" Benny furrowed his eyebrows.
" 'Waiting for my herbal tea.' Honestly, why would you automatically assume I'd do it for you?" She pointed a metal teaspoon at his chest.
"Because you asked me if I wanted one and I said yes?" He said with a hint of exasperation.
"Well I was, but you didn't have to sound so controlling." The purple haired woman laughed bitterly.
"Controlling? What are you on about now, Anni-Frid?" He sighed.
"And there we go! You can't help criticising me, can you?!" She sat down on a chair, refusing to look at him.
"Criticising you?! You and I both know I'd never do that."
""You do, at least in my mind! And maybe I deserve to be criticised, after what I'm doing to my child." She was trying her best to hold back tears now.
"What's gotten into you?" He carefully grabbed her face, forcing her to meet his blue eyes.

"Everything." She whispered softly, breaking down completely. "I can't anymore, I just can't Benny. Not- Not while she's not here. It feels like I-I'm replacing her." Then Frida pushed him away, running into the living room and slamming the door behind her. Naturally afraid, Benny burst in to find a heart-wrenching sight.

Frida was curled up in the fetal position on the sofa, burying her head into a pillow that could not muffle the sound of her wails. Unsure exactly what to do, Benny did what both his head and his heart told him to do. Comfort the love of his life.

Rubbing Frida's back in soothing circles, he repositioned himself to lie down next to her, pulling her on top of his chest. To his surprise, she didn't resist, though she didn't exactly respond either. All she could do was sniff.
"Frida, all Victoria would want you to be is happy. And our son isn't replacing her, they are 2 equally magical children. Though we didn't have her for long, we were lucky to have her at all given the circumstances." Benny wiped the tears from his eyes. It was always hard for him to talk about his poor little daughter; what a horrid fate she suffered.
"Don't tell me what she thinks and doesn't think Benny. She's dead. And it was all my fault." Frida's voice cracked, unable to speak any longer.
"Frida, Victoria's death wasn't your fault, stop blaming yourself." His voice was heavy with anguish.
"It was Benny. I couldn't keep her safe."