This is a sad one, sorry. But I, the fangirl, will never get over baby Sarah's death! It was the saddest thing ever!
Baby Blues
Tiny blonde lashes brush chubby alabaster cheeks. Blue eyes assess whereabouts as a little body stirs. Soon, frantic wailing begins in earnest.
The baby is finally awake.
Gwen has been rooted to this very seat for what could have been hours now, completely hypnotized by the sight of that precious pink bundle. She watches now as the baby's mother places her oversized mug down on the Formica tabletop, and fusses over her little daughter. Cooing softly, she lifts the infant from her car seat and presses a gentle hand to her back, cradling her to an ample chest.
The baby's pathetic sobs fill the café. Several other patrons flick their heads towards the scene in annoyance. The young mother's cheeks color while her fingers fumble for the bottle tucked in the pocket of the yellow diaper bag. The little girl is now squirming in earnest and the bottle threatens to smack the floor. Gwen makes her move then. She grabs for the bottle right on time, handing it to the mother who smiles at her gratefully.
"Thank you... Sometimes I think I can do it all, and other times ..." The young mother's voice trails off. She gently places the soft nipple to her daughter's pale, pink lips. The baby immediately latches onto the offering and chugs away contendly.
"No one can do it all," Gwen says wisely. She gazes in wide-eyed wonder at the baby. She is simply beautiful - blonde with little curls spooling at the nape of her neck; blue-eyed; petite … all too precious … She looks just as Sarah had in that one moment, that one heartbreaking, precious moment, when she got to hold her daughter against her body. Only this baby is alive; this baby is thriving. This baby is blessedly, wonderfully, breathing.
Gwen nibbles her bottom lip. "She's so pretty. How old is she?" Gwen's eyes trace the curve of the baby's soft, plump cheeks.
"Six months," the mother answers. "Her name is Annie."
"What a lovely name for a lovely girl. She seems like such a little sweetheart. Hold onto her tightly."
"I will." The other woman looks up at Gwen. "Do you have any children of your own?"
Gwen slowly nods. "Her name was Sarah."
"Sarah … Was … Oh…"
Gwen sees a look of understanding, and then pity, cloud the woman's azure eyes. It's a look she has never quite gotten used to.
"I'm so sorry."
Gwen splays her hands in front of her. "It was a long, long time ago."
"But I imagine you never get over that sort of thing."
"No… No, you don't." Gwen's eyes burn. "Anyway, I should go. It was nice meeting you and Annie."
She allows herself one last, final look at the tiny bundle; imagines for the briefest of moments that Annie is really her beloved Sarah - imagines she is the one holding her and feeding her and protecting her the way she never had the chance to. And then Gwen turns and walks out of the busy café and tries to move forward with her life.
After all, what other choice did she have in the matter?
