WHAT IF WE LOVED

THEN-3:15PM

The kids spill into the house dropping backpacks on the kitchen table pulling open cabinets. “Mom! Mom! What snack do we get?”, yells Ben. “I pick the snack!” Sophie piles on. “Knock it off and get whatever’s in the fridge. Christ”. Gwen is having brutal contractions the baby is right on schedule. “Grab your snack and go to the Lang’s they’re expecting you guys! Wait, come over here.” Ben and Sophie walk slowly toward their mom a little nervous after hearing that “don’t fuck with me” tone. She is laid out on the couch her stomach blocking her view of the kids’ faces. Before she can say anything, “Why can’t we go with you?”, whines Ben. Sophie starts crying, “Mommy I wanna stay with you!”. Her reign as the baby is about to end. Gwen responds tightly, “Get your snack and your bags by the door. I told you you can’t go daddy’s taking me to the hospital now move it.”

NOW-Three Weeks Later

Fire chars the spoon filled with bubbling dope. Gwen’s friend argues with her boyfriend, “Don’t give that to her!”, she says. “She wants it, right?”, he’s looking at Gwen. She shakes her head up and down. INSERT DOPE - [SUN SHINING BRIGHT BRIGHT YELLOW YELLOW BLINDING BLINDING LIGHT LIGHT RISING RISING JOY JOY FILLS EVERY CELL IN HER BODY SHE FEELS NO PAIN] [UNTIL EVERYTHING FALLS INTO THE NO GRAVITY FIELD DOWN TO THE GROUND. She knew it was false brain chemical neurons churning but God Damn This. Is It. Again Please.

THEN-7:32PM

Sophie and Ben are at the Lang’s. They both like Karen and they both like David. Well, Sophie really doesn’t like David, but she knows her mom would be mad if she said otherwise. Karen yells, “Dinner’s ready come on guys.” They walk into the dining room. David is already there. “Sit next to me sweet pea”, he says to Sophie. She sits next to him. “If you guys are good we can go get some ice cream.”

NOW-9:32PM

Matt holds their newborn baby girl, Madison. Gwen is inconsolable. “I can’t, where is she, she was crying, and, I kicked her out the door my god my god what have I done she just wanted me I didn’t have a second for her my sweet baby please forgive me Sophie please forgive mommy I can’t take this pain I want to die God please!”

THEN-8:30PM

She walks out the front door to her house and crawls in through Ben’s bedroom window. She didn’t want any ice cream and she’s tired from crying. She falls asleep on top of her parent’s bed.

NOW-10:20PM

The whole family is at the hospital in her room. “Sophie baby”, Gwen says gently. “Mommy loves you so much.”

THEN-9:13PM

David carries a sleeping Sophie to take her back to his house. She starts waking up and is startled to see him holding her. She screams and kicks out of his arms running right into the banister head first.

THEN-9:31PM

“Karen I have her. She was sleeping, and I must have surprised her. She ran into the banister going fast and knocked herself out. I’m calling 911 let Matt and Gwen know they are losing their minds over this.”

THEN-9:16PM

David checks to confirm she is breathing. She’s knocked out but she is breathing. She looks like she’ll be fine. Just in case, he thinks, I’ll call 911 and let Karen know. He looks at her.

THEN-9:18PM

Ben comes home through his bedroom window. He hears David talking to her. He runs into the living room and sees him doing something and freezes. He goes back to his bedroom.

NOW-One Week Later

Ben tells Gwen what he saw.