mo

s ag

indow and watch the evening begin. The older kids always bother me because I like to stay here in the attic window, watching the street and peop

good nights with tickles, even when she yelled at me! I miss her scent, her "I love you, my life; mommy loves you so much." The longing is so immense that it hurts in my chest. That's why I come here to observe the world and try to fill my heart with the affection I see others receiving. Night has fallen, and I'

the box to see inside. When I do that, I get startled! There's a baby inside. She's sleeping, wrapped in a blanket, and I'm certain that the blanket isn't keeping her warm because it's very cold. Aunt Carmen calls me again, but I don't move. I turn around and see her approaching with a jacket in her hand. Eve

putting the jacket over my shoulders, I speak

s well up in her eyes. "Aunt Ca

here, and she's cold.

nt Carmen takes the bunch of keys out of her pocket and opens the gate for us. She kneels and opens the box, pic

u find in the box and br

She doesn't have anyone like me. We enter the house, climb the stairs, and go to her room. Aunt Carmen puts the baby on the bed and fusses over her. She places several pillows around her, then she stands up and stroke

s on TV. "Aunt Carmen says that she's clean." She gets up from the bed, comes towards me, and kneels in front of me, just like Mom used t

mi Clark, and she's two months old," she say

s like a little package, so tiny and wrapped in a blanket. She sits down

't let anyone hurt her," Aunt Carmen looks at me and smiles. The ba

f mem

th some videos of Carl and a profile containing his information, address, and phone number. I play the video, and he's crying, say

pt that promise. Every weekend, I would visit her, or she would come to my parents' house to spend the weekend. And it continued that way until Ayumi turned eighteen. She decided to pursue a degree in architecture. Aunt Carmen provided her with an apartment while she was still alive, and A

e the call, but the person is persistent. Just as I'm about to decline it again, I glance at Carl's pr

get my number? Weren't the punches

It's as if my armor has falle

umi

ff, and I'm left with silen

i, my

nd I only hear the sound of her br

Shortly after, the call gets disconnected. I tried calling several

ith Carl al