Damages

Prologue

I sat up, looking around. Expecting to hear stirring. Perhaps a cry or whimper. Nothing. I looked at the clock. 3:15 AM. This was right around the time he would wake up. I lazily swung my legs over the edge of my bed and pulled myself to a walking position. I walked sleepily to his bed and looked down in. His round face and bright eyes peered up to me. He smiled sheepishly and said, "Ba ba." He thrusts his bottle up at me. I smile despite myself, and shuffle off to the kitchen to get him more milk.

As tired and exhausted as I am I feel completely at ease and even happy as I calmly pour his soy milk into a cup and then slowly screw the cap back on. It didn't matter how tired I was. Or would be. He was worth every second of exhaustion.

Upon return, my eyes adjust to the dimly lit room. I start to walk over to his crib and look down. I hiss out of alarm and fear and take a step back. No crib, no bottle, no blanket, No Baby. I swallowed hard, twice and blinked my eyes. Only a dresser. A plain black wooden dresser my friends had helped me move into my bedroom. After it had happened.

I look at my hand and see my Aquafina water bottle in it. The water bottle is shaking in my hand. I bit my lip. This one was really bad. Taking a deep breath, I whispered to myself, "Its ok. It happens to everyone. I will not cry. It's normal. It's healthy." My face scrunches as I lose the battle with my inner psyche and my tear ducts and only when I fall into the corner backed against the wall, eyes screwed shut tight, does the rain begin to pour.