a life like this

His body was so hot.

Rossie awoke in a sweat. She had to unwrap herself from Derrick. Oh, he'd always been clingy in bed from the get go. She should have been used to it, but now she had an ache in the crook of her neck where his chin pinned in so.

She was stiff and shook the sleep with a yawn.

She heard voices. They were being quiet, but someone was with the baby. She'd hate to see her child with strangers.

She reached for her winter floral leggings. She didn't want to be too naked, even if the baggy white Tee swallowed her. Rossie made her way out of the bedroom, and there was boy in the alley kitchen, stirring something in a pot.

"Oh, you're awake," he said. "Are you, hungry?"

Well, of course, she was. Starved in fact, but she wondered where the baby was. She turned to see Josie changing the baby on a plastic pad in the crib. Josie diligently cleaned up and made sure Aasha was fine. Actually, Aasha hadn't whimpered until she saw Rossie.

"I guess she wants you." Josie bit a grin.

"Are you sure that's what that means?" Rossie sighed having her doubts, but the baby took to her and looked up at her as if she wondered what Rossie was waiting for. Of course, she lactated immediately. Sometimes, it felt as if concrete was being created right in her breast, but she felt inhibited to give the baby what she wanted.

Of course, the boy had a bowl of macaroni and cheese waiting for her.

"Maybe, you could eat and feed her at the same time." He suggested. Of course, Josie gave him the eye, as if he better shut up.

"Um, I'm not sure if..if you remember Henry." Josie told  Rossie as she clumsily found her way to the dining table to sit with the baby.

"Yeah, sure." Rossie had just forgotten his name, but she didn't tell him that. She decided she better feed Aasha first. She practically hid her under her Tee and then felt certain she might suffocate her. All the while, Aasha took to her breast as if nothing was going to stop her.

"I swear, she must take after me." Rossie sighed. Perhaps they'd get along fine, after all. There were moments she was afraid Aasha must hate her, by the way she wailed with her tiny lungs. Rossie just couldn't stand to listen to it nor to see it. She felt the need to want to make her happy.

Henry went back to the dishes. He was washing the pot he'd cooked in and put the rest of the meal in the fridge.

"I'm pretty sure she knows who you are." Josie assured her.

Rossie smiled, then said. "God, I dunno what time it is."

"A little after seven." Henry checked the microwave clock.

"At night?" She guessed.

Josie nodded.

"I'm sure you two would rather be, anywhere, than here." She couldn't imagine people coming over to tend to the baby.

"I've got nothing going on." Henry shrugged as he leaned against the kitchen doorway.

Rossie finally gave Aasha back to Josie. After all, Rossie was famished. She could hardly wait to get to the bowl of cheesy macaroni.

"Maybe, you should get out those baby carrots, I brought." Josie looked to Henry, and he went to get them. He removed the lid of the plastic container.

"You guys, thought of everything." Rossie took a carrot and bit into it.

"No, my mom thought of everything." Josie laughed. "She'll be over tomorrow."

Rossie nodded. It felt a like getting used to all Derrick's cuddling. She wanted it, yet it was hard to get used too.

"So, do, you think Derrick will be up, anytime soon?" Rossie looked at both of them. They both chuckled and shook their heads, no.