The gilded box

the gilded box

July 11, 2025

He fell asleep  
on the four-minute ride home  
after we dropped Sarah off.  

Still asleep  
as I unbuckled him.  
Still asleep  
as I carried him to the elevator.  
Still asleep  
as the beep and creak of buttons and doors released sounds.  

We had just come up.  
Still in the elevator.  
I was holding him in one arm,  
trying to get my phone with the other.  

It’s rare for him to stay asleep.  
Usually he peeks.  
But this time  
he didn’t.  

I took a few shots.  
Some on my phone for her.  
Some on my camera for the archive.  

This was the last one.  
I didn’t even notice my own face  
until I started editing.  

He didn’t wake for nearly three hours.  

I held him the whole time.  
But this photo holds us.