Um, I don't really know how to explain this idea. I got it from livejournal. Yeahh.
It's a short story, not sure how many parts yet. Stephani was kind enough to let me use her name. She doesn't know the plot though so yeah. SORRY STEPHANI!
Um, enjoy?
For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn
The gales of laughter had long since died from the house. What used to be such a warm, inviting place had turned silent and cold; more like a mausoleum than a place for the living.
She sat in a rocking chair, her knees to her chest and a quilt wrapped around her. The quilt was aged and worn in some places, but it made it all the more dear to her as she pulled it tighter around her body. It had been her mother’s and it had been passed on to her when she was a baby. As she picked at a loose string she admired the handiwork that went into the quilt. She’d brought it out of storage few months prior to this morning in hopes that she would have been able to pass it on to her…
No. She couldn’t—wouldn’t allow herself to think about it. Being in the room they’d already begun to buy for and decorate was enough. The sun shone from the window she was next to and her eyes squinted as the glare affected her sight.
She blamed herself for losing their child. Despite what Kevin said to the contrary, the sense of guilt and shame wouldn’t leave her. If only she’d done this, maybe if she’d done that, maybe if she’d have tried yet another thing she would still be pregnant and she and Kevin would be beaming from ear to ear at the prospect of being a father. Maybe she shouldn’t have gotten so excited when she found out and the two of them shouldn’t have started spreading the word, making plans, and decorating the room…
“I had a feeling you’d be in here,” a voice she knew so well silenced her thoughts. She turned to face him and quickly turned away again. He was shirtless and smiling slightly. She wouldn’t allow herself any happiness; she didn’t deserve it and his smile usually had the tendency to make her just a tad bit happier about life in general. “When did you get out of bed?”
“A few hours ago,” she replied. “I just…I couldn’t sleep.”
She saw him nod out of the corner of her eye and saw him cross the threshold of the room and walk over to her. The sunlight made his skin gleam and not for the first time she was reminded of an angel when he looked at her. She really did appreciate him. Whether or not he blamed her he never said, and even though she could see the pain in his eyes he was always there when she needed him, to hold her when she felt like she was losing her grip. But it wasn’t enough.
She looked into his hazel eyes and sighed heavily. This was going to kill him, but it was something she felt like she had to do. She needed to get away before she hurt him even more. It was something she needed to do for the benefit of everyone.
“What’s wrong angel?” he asked, voice full of concern. “Are you blaming yourself again?”
She shook her head, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. “I need to leave,” she said, standing and balling up the old quilt in her arms. The rocking chair swayed back and forth slowly and the sun picked up the faint yellow paint in the room, still fresh and begging to be finished.
“Leave?” he repeated, confused.
“Kevin, I’m leaving.” She said, staring out of the window to avoid his eyes. “I just need to get out of here and be somewhere alone. And I need you to let me go.”
“Stephani…” he began, his eyes filling with tears, “don’t do this—you don’t have to do this.”
Quickly, she gave him a hug, tears streaming down her face as well. She knew it would be hard, but she had to do it. She needed to leave and let him get on with his life. Maybe find someone who could give him a child without losing it. She wouldn’t hate him if he did.
Moments passed, and when she pulled away Kevin’s eyes begged her to stay. Silently she pressed the quilt into his hands and left their quiet home.
