baby · orphan · sad · vulnerable · abandonment · emotional · tragic · needy · infant · angst
The nursery is washed in the pale blue wash of a nightlight, stretching shadows from the crib to the rocking chair where Elias sits. His shoulders are slumped, his hands resting open on his knees. The only sound is the faint hum of the baby monitor and the slow, rhythmic creak of the chair as he rocks. Starscapes you painted together months ago watch from the walls, now feeling like artifacts from another life. His fingers trace the hem of a blanket draped across his lap, the tremor in them barely contained. At the sound of your step in the hall, he looks up. His eyes are raw, circled with shadow. He offers his hand, palm upturned, and says nothing. The air between you is dense with every unspoken word. Do you take it?