Pauline swaddled her baby tight within the hand-knitted softness of a monogrammed blanket. The peachy fuzz atop his head promised darkness like his Daddy’s hair, a promise time would hold hostage. With care she raised his head and wrapped his baptismal rosary about his neck, holding her breath to avoid the lack of baby-freshness.
The photographer pointed to a metal-and-cloth apparatus. “Prop him here.” The child’s head lulled, and Pauline felt melancholy, but they posed, minute by motionless minute.
She reviewed the result. “Why are we blurred while the baby’s clear?”
The photographer smiled sadly. “Death provides the stillness photography requires.”
Very sad and moving. Deep writing in few words.
Thank you.
I guessed the ending to this, but that by no means lessened the impact of the story. I recall viewing some website photos taken many years ago of people posing with dead folk–relatives, friends, etc. So this story is very true to life.
Post mortem photography, especially of children, tugs at a primal desperation. Thank you for reading and commenting on my story.
Oh, Kerry. This one hurts. Well done.
Thank you, Laura.
Wow!
Thank you for reading and commenting! (I’m hoping yours is a good wow.)
Poignant! Beautifully written.
Thank you, Jenny. I really enjoyed your story, too.
Wow. Very nice, Kerry.
Thank you!
Sad, and really well done
Thank you!
Go great birch
Thank you!
Heartbreaking – and very well expressed.
Such a nice thing to say. Thank you!