She left the light off out of habit. Quietly, she walked into the bathroom pausing every time the floor creaked even though there was no need any more. She was alone. Taking in her appearance in the mirror she begins to undress. The heavy bags under her eyes aged her. Slowly she placed a hand over her stomach and just stood there numbly for a moment before quickly looking away. She pulled back the shower curtain and stared at the bath toys scattered around; laying where they had fallen. Stepping around them she climbed in, letting the warm water drench her. She went through the motions methodically. Slowly she reached for the body wash. She breathed in deeply letting the memories flood in with the scent. Soon she wouldn't even have that anymore. As quietly as she had showered, she walked across her living room floor avoiding the toys that she couldn't bring herself to pick up. She knew that she needed to eat but she couldn't find the energy. So, she made her way to her bedroom instead and laid there watching reruns on the TV.

Sometime later she jerked awake. She could have sworn that she had heard… As the fog cleared her head, she realized she had only heard the baby on TV crying. If though she knew that it wasn't real, she got out of bed anyways. She walked down her dark hallway, stopping in front of a door with a light pink E hanging from a hook. The door creaked as she opened it and stepped inside. Slowly she turned on the sound machine and looked around the darken room. Everything was the same.

Her chest ached as she looked at the empty crib. The security blanket and pacifier lay there waiting like they had been since the Snap. She reached out and grabbed the small gray elephant lovie and brought it to her face. The smell had long gone but she was still hopeful. Tears began to prick her eyes as she sat down in the rocking chair clutching the elephant to her chest. Quietly she started to sing "you are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies turn gray. You'll never know dear how much I love you…" her voice broke as tears rained down. "Please don't take my sunshine away."

She always set in the same spot whenever she came to a meeting. All around her she heard the familiar stories of loss and grief. A few people shared stories of new found acceptance, hope, or love. She would clap along with the rest of the group but she was just going through the motions.

Would anyone else like to share?" Steve Rogers said from across the circle. His eyes landed on her.

She didn't normally speak at the meetings. Most of the time she didn't see the point. Even if someone could understand how she felt, their understanding wasn't going to make the pain go away. Nothing would. But hearing the others stories helped her keep her head above her the waters of her grief. Tonight, was different. Tonight, she was drowning and she didn't know if she could keep going.

"Hi my name is Amy and today is my…" she took a deep breath trying to steady herself "today would be my daughter's fifth birthday." She barely got the words out before she broke down; waves of sobs overcoming her.

She had wanted to say more. She had wanted to tell them how alone she felt, how lost. How there were no words to describe the pain that she felt every day. How sometimes after she first woke up in the morning, she convinced herself that it was all a dream only to be crushed by reality. She wanted to tell them that she didn't know how to mourn a life that had barely been started.

She buried her head in her hands and fought to gain control. She needed to be strong she thought. But what for?! Her whole world was gone who was she being strong for?! What did it matter if she fell apart and let the grief overcome her?!

Suddenly, she felt two strong arms wrap around her as she was pulled into an embrace. She continued to let the tears come as the warmth and the unfamiliar scent surrounded her. Slowly, her tears ran out. She rested her head on the firm chest as she began to regain her composure.

"I can't begin to understand what you are going through" Steve said gently as he tightened his embrace "but you are not alone. You are never alone."