Violet Opens Up About Losing Hawkins in This Emotional New Chicago Fire Scene

Chicago Fire Season 11, Episode 7 (which aired November 9) was a bit of a doozy. Firehouse 51 was dealing with a heckler who kept criticizing their performance on actual jobs—but it turns out this man was more than just angry. He was hurt. 

You see, this heckler actually lost his father in a fire at a wedding that Firehouse 51 helped put out several episodes back. He blames the firefighters for the death of his dad—and he's letting them know this at every turn.  

Toward the end of Episode 7, the heckler shows up to Firehouse 51—but before anything can happen, Violet (Hanako Greensmith) steps in and shares her own story about grief (specifically, about losing her boyfriend, Hawkins (Jimmy Nicholas) earlier in the season after a building collapse). It's a powerful moment, and after Violet's exchange with the heckler, he decides to stop harassing Firehouse 51 and do something much more intense: Confront his grief head on. As the episode title says, "Angry Is Easier."

Read Violet's full, poignant speech about grief from the episode, below, and watch, above. 

"You think you're the only person who lost someone? The only person who has had someone ripped away from them? It is a living hell, and I know it. It feels like you're drowning because every day since he died, you haven't been able to breathe. It doesn't make any sense, but every day you wake up, and you realize that he's still not there, right?" 

Watch Chicago Fire on NBC Wednesdays at 9/8c and next day on Peacock.