CROWNED BY BLOOD
's quieter hum, the contented sound he made when I held him close, when the world was small enough to fit in his mother's arms and safety was measured in heartbeats.
I clutch one of the blankets to my chest Alexander's favorite, blue as summer sky with silver stars embroidered along the edges. It still smells faintly of him, or perhaps that's wishful thinking, perhaps I'm so desperate for connection that I imagine comfort where none exists. I rock harder, the chair groaning its protest, whispering apologies until my throat burns raw and my voice cracks with the strain.