Baby Shower Blues

Image by Mariela Oviedo from Pixabay 

Colby pasted a smile on her face as Amy’s mother’s baby gift was revealed. The beautifully carved cradle came complete with a huge bow and a Winnie the Pooh blanket and mobile. Inside, she was dying.

Amy looked from the cradle to her friend, unable to hide her own reaction. Colby gave a slight shake of her head. Don’t say anything. She took a large slug of her wine, then figuring what the hell, she emptied it. Excusing herself, she retreated to the kitchen where she poured herself another glass.

She knew she shouldn’t get drunk. She was hosting this baby shower, after all. She had really thought she could handle it. After all, she loved little Bryant with all her heart. The heart that had been broken when her own baby, Connor, had died from a severe congenital heart defect.

Amy had tried to talk her out of hosting the shower, but Colby had assured her it would be fine. And it was, mostly. The doctor had cleared her to start trying again next month. She would always miss her little boy, but life went on. Colby was determined to celebrate her best friend’s joy.

But then Gloria had to bring out that cradle with the same set Colby had bought for Connor. As tears started to flow, Amy came through the door, carrying Bryant. She wordlessly placed the infant into Colby’s arms, then wrapped herself around her friend and baby as they all cried together.

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This story is my response to this week’s Wake up and Write prompt from Micro 2 Go. I admit I cried when I wrote this one. It’s heartbreaking. The prompt called for writing a story about scars, physical or emotional, in under 250 words. Please share this story and comment on how it did (or didn’t) affect you.