Ice Cold Embers

Melted Ice

I think I’ve forgotten how to ‘feel’?

The moment she gave her last breath, I became numb… numb to everything… I don't know... maybe I was just shocked... or maybe... I don't really know... just... I wonder...

“Uchiha-san…”

“Uchiha-san, may I please speak to you for a moment?”

I wonder when I’m going to remember how to ‘feel’ again…

… or if I ever will.

I don’t even flinch when I hear the doctor announce my wife’s time of death… the cause of her death… death at childbirth… hemorrhage… massive bleeding…

“U-uchiha-san... I-I'm s-sorry for your l-loss... S-sakura-san is... was... I'm s-sorry... I-I d-don't know what to say... I'll just call on N-naruto-kun now, if that's okay with you... h-he would h-have to be informed...”

Their words fall on deaf ears...

I’m numb… numb to everything…

... wh-

… what’s that I hear?

… is that… oh God forbid… is that the sound of someone ‘crying’?

stopcryingstopcryingstopcryingstopcrying...

“Uchiha-san, it’s a boy…a healthy baby boy... would you like to… erm… hold him?”

damnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnit...

It seems like I might relearn one of my emotions sooner than I thought.

“Get that… that thing… out of my sight.”

“B-but Uchiha-san… he’s your son.”

“I – don’t – care. Now get him out of my sight.”

“H-hai, U-uchiha-san.”

…Ah… what was this feeling again? So... familiar... Oh yes… I remember now… anger. This is anger...