Elise cups the gingerbread baby in her hand and breathes in his spiced scent. One arm curves up to his mouth, as if sucking a thumb for comfort. Yellow moons of icing form sleepy eyes.
He cannot thrive. Mould will spread, his body crumbling beneath her fingertips.
Touching one tiny foot to her lips, Elise places her flat palm against her stomach. What would it be like to have him inside her, the two of them as one, for just a short while?
Too short. She lowers him into an embossed tin, then seals the lid.
Forever perfect.
Forever apart.
Author bio:
Stephanie Hutton is a writer and clinical psychologist in the UK. Publications include Atticus Review, Connotation Press and Aesthetica Creative Writing Award anthology. She was recently shortlisted in Bath Novella-in-Flash Award and Bristol Short Story Prize. Find her at stephaniehutton.com and @tiredpsych. Her debut novella Three Sisters of Stone was published by Ellipsis in May 2018.
Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash