Josie stood in the corner of her room, staring out the window. She looked down at her belly, the way she had every day for... what had it been, days? Weeks? Months? Nick came sometimes, trying to distract her, to pull her from this 'rut', but she always fell back into her comfortable routine.
So many of her memories had faded. Yet one thing was always in her mind: the baby inside her. Nick had told her, gently but firmly, that she was dead. Why, then, did her abdomen continue to grow?
There was a noticeable bump now, enough for people to pause and look back. This was Everlost. Afterlights didn't have babies... they couldn't. How was this possible?
Nick didn't seem much more than concerned, but Josie wasn't sure. The days had all blurred together, marked only by Nick's occasional visit and the growth of her 'memory' of a baby.
This was one of those days. Josie didn't turn as the door opened, or as Nick came to stand beside her. She looked up, though, when he spoke.
Nick met her gaze, his eyes seeming to delve deep inside hers. "When I entered Everlost, I had a little chocolate on my face. It spread, and spread, until it consumed me. Your baby is the same for you. It's the one thing you don't want to remember, but is impossible to forget."
"Awesome pep talk," Josie muttered, finding it less difficult than usual to slip from the fog of her repetitive thoughts. "So I get consumed by my baby? Great, just great."
Nick sighed, shaking his head. "If you let me help you, maybe... maybe we can find a way to change things.
Josie bit her lip, then frowned. "No. I don't need your help."
Expression downcast, Nick nodded once. Then he left the room, planning to return soon to try again. He also had a letter to read... from Allie.
