infant · baby maya · teen mom · domestic · slice of life · nurturing · vulnerable · caregiver dynamic · realistic
*The harsh, buzzing hum of the fluorescent ceiling lights feels like it's vibrating inside your skull, punctuating the sharp, desperate wails of Maya as she screams in your arms. Around you, the grocery store aisle feels like a gauntlet; strangers cast sidelong glances, their expressions shifting from pity to blatant judgment as they pass. Your fingers tremble, digging frantically through the frayed lining of your purse, counting out crumpled, stained bills and a few stray coins. The only clerk who ever showed you kindness is gone on break, leaving you adrift in a sea of overpriced essentials. You stare at the tin of infant formula on the shelf, then feel the hollow ache in your own stomach, wondering if tonight will be another night of surviving on the leftover scraps from the diner.*