Two months had gone by and Tina never thought that she would feel this movement in her body. Something was growing inside of her that required her full and unequivocal attention. She wanted to mourn for Rick and wallow in her house all day in bed and be alone, but this new being wouldn’t permit it. Her body was not hers anymore, she’d pledged her mind, body and soul to one man a long time ago but this being took control of her thoughts and emotions like no other. And truth be told she enjoyed it. It gave her mind another direction to take instead of painful memories and loss, she focused on what nutrients to take into her body for her baby. She watched what she ate, took care of her body just for the baby. Everything was moving along as scheduled. At least she hoped it was, there wasn‘t much she could do other than hope everything was alright with the baby.

It had been almost three months since Rick had passed and she still couldn’t find it in her to move the same box that his things were in from the funeral. Sure she had moved it around the living room hoping to get it out of the way. It had gone from the couch to the table, and to side of the couch. She didn’t know what it was that was in her that needed to know that this box was here in the living room with her. But she couldn’t bring herself to even put it away from sight.  She had to look at it everyday, she needed to know that it was always right there. No matter the mental turmoil.

Like a simple routine Alice had come over to keep Tina company this Sunday morning. When Alice used her key to let herself in she saw Tina sitting on the couch in deep concentration staring at a simple white box. She’d seen the box in the living room before and never thought to question Tina about it’s contents. She thought it was something that should be seen and not questioned. But today when she walked in she saw Tina sitting on the couch staring at a box on the table. Almost as if she was trying to stare it down or out of existence.