October 22nd, 2008 (Crib Death)

As my eyes scanned the darkened room, a slight rustling caught my eye. I clicked the mag light and an instant contrast boomed in the dark bedroom. It was a decent sized room and in the corner sat an antique crib casting mountain-looking shadows on the wall. A light, almost see through bed curtain surrounded it. As I inched my way towards it, the motions increased. The light bumps that pressed against the sheet reminded me of an infant kicking at its mother inside the womb. Limp and powerless. I took one final step and it was right next to me.

The concept of what I was about to see was unfathomable until I very much indeed did see it. I held my breath and took hold of the curtain. There was a very good chance that an infant had died alone and starving in this crib once it's parents had been turned or eaten. You have to hold your breath or else breakfast will find it's way back up your throat and land on your shoes. Doesn't make sense to eat a perfectly good breakfast just to waste it on a whim. I exhaled hard and drew in a long, deep breath. I wretched back the curtain and, had my lungs not been to the bursting point already, tried to gasp. Flushed over by the mag light, the tiny digits clawed at the air and cast phantom shadows on the wall. I'd been right to assume it had died here. I hadn't considered what had happened next.