Keeping A Piece Of You

Diana slips into Joshua's room like she's looking for something she lost. She runs her fingers over his things slow, like each one hurts a little. The room's quiet, heavy, until the front door bangs and he shouts he's home. She lights up fast, calling back, then meets him in the hall wearing next to nothing. Joshua stops cold. Asks if that's the outfit for her big return to dating. Tells her Dad would want her moving on. Diana shoots it down quick. Raising him was everything. She's not ready to watch him leave for college and she's got one way to keep him close. She walks him back to the bedroom. Door shuts. She drops it plain: she wants his kid. Joshua laughs at first, then shuts down when he sees she's dead serious. She pleads, voice cracking, says she'll never tell a soul whose it is, swears it'll be their secret. Joshua hates seeing her fall apart. He stands there, caught, then nods. Fine. If this is what she needs, he'll do it. Just them. She gets what she wants, and he hopes that's enough.