“My room isn’t big enough.” Jack said, “Besides I, I’m sure they’ll be fine with it.” he said, before realizing there was a photograph still where he’d left it. Of course he’d taken some photos with him to the city but he had… somehow forgotten this one. Jack walks over to the photo that sits besides where his bed is and picks it up. “…this is Gail.”
He holds the frame out to Katelynn. It shows a baby, small, wrapped in white hospital blankets. Her skin is dark, not as dark as Bonnie’s but her hair is thick and black. She’s being held by a blue, scrawny, eleven year old Jack. The boy isn’t even looking at the photographer; he’s looking at the baby who’s small eyes are shut.
“I kept asking my parents to send it to me but they’d already left by the time I realized I forgot it.”
She looked down at the photograph, remembering their talk last time of his baby sister and her heart broke at seeing the tiny face. She traced her fingers along the smooth surface of the glass, as if trying to reassure the little boy in the photograph.
It was so heart wrenching that a tear slipped from her eye and fell onto the photo. She tried to wipe her eye discreetly, however and smiled at him. “I-I’m glad we’re here to pick it up so you can keep it close to your heart. She r-really was very c-cute…”
Even though she was sure Jack already kept her memory close. Photographs were just a nice addition for remembering lost loved ones.
Be strong..be strong for him… she chanted in her mind.
“Mmm. She. She was.” Jack said, reaching out and touched the frame, doing his best not to have his voice or hand shake. But instead he looked to Katleynn. “…d-do you want to go meet her? I. I mean… not meet but… ugh. Just. Just follow me?” he asks, as he moves from the room and makes his way through to the backdoor of the house.
Jack Maple 