> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://j-carvalho.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Moving boxes - URL: https://j-carvalho.ghost.io/moving-boxes/ - Published: 2026-08-19T11:23:31.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-19T11:23:31.000Z - Description: While packing for a move, Ellie becomes consumed by everything she still needs to do, unaware of what she's leaving behind. - Author: Jocca97 - Tags: Short Stories, Psychology, Symbolism, Time The grandfather clock was ticking away in the living room. Ellie was in a hurry, packing up years of belongings accumulated and then forgotten about. Each box was carefully labelled. There was a box full of kitchen utensils, cutlery, plates, mugs, and spice containers. Another box was overflowing with blankets, duvets, pillow covers, and a multitude of knitted blankets, which were never finished. It's funny. People usually save things for later, thinking they will have more time when they are less busy. Ellie thought so too and now, as she was packing all these hopes into moving boxes, her son of 8 months was waging a war in his still-assembled crib, hungry as ever, asking his mother to feed him. "I really won't have time for this" she thought as she sealed one of the cardboard boxes with duct tape and put it away neatly next to the other already-packed boxes. She sat on the leather arm chair, made herself and her rosy-cheeked son comfortable and fed him. Time was ticking. Ellie put her son back in the crib and quickly returned to the assortment of her items. She noticed a box labelled *memories*. Confused, Ellie wondered if her husband had packed this box. However, as she opened the box to check what was inside, the doorbell rang. It was her elderly neighbor, Ms. Dorothy, with a freshly baked batch of cookies. Not wanting to be rude, she took the cookies and politely but firmly excused herself. "Are you not going to invite me in, dear?" "I'm sorry Ms. Dorothy, I just don't have the time." "Nonsense, you must always have the time for an old friend." Ms. Dorothy sat on the couch, while, with one swift motion, leaning her cane on the armrest. Despite having trouble walking, she was quite agile for her age. Ellie found humor in this incongruence. Most of all, because she had never noticed it before. "Are you ready now?" asked Dorothy while looking at her pocket watch. "Unfortunately not, this seems never-ending. It's like the more boxes I fill up, the more I have to do". "You're running out of time". "No, I'm not. I still have a week. Besides, most of it's already packed". "That's what you said last time" "Excuse me? I'm sorry Ms. Dorothy, but I'm going to ask you to leave." "Sure, but why don't you go check on your baby first?" With a puzzled look and an uneasy feeling, Ellie made her way to the crib. He wasn't there. With a fast-paced walk, Ellie quickly found herself looking at a disturbing scene. The moving boxes were all torn open and their belongings scattered all over the floor. Near the entrance door was Dorothy. She was standing with an oddly straight posture with her cane resting over he shoulder, while holding Ellie's baby. "Are you ready, now?" Dorothy asked "Give me my child back you crazy bitch" retorted Ellie while assuming a pouncing stance. "How many times must we do this, Ellie? Aren't you tired?" "What are you talking about?" Ellie was shaking, but whether it was due to fear or rage, she could not tell. "Here. I won't harm your son." With a quick motion, Ellie grabbed back her child and held him close to her chest, but he felt lighter. As she looked down, her face turned pale. Her baby boy was slowly disappearing. Although she tried to hold on to him, her grip closed in on itself and she collapsed on the floor asking Dorothy or the room, what had happened to her baby. Dorothy was in her late 20s now with thick jet black hair and porcelain skin. Still holding her cane, Dorothy reached her hand out to Ellie and helped her up. "Come with me". Ellie simply followed without any protest. They stepped outside, walked until the mail box and both looked back at the house. Inside, Ellie could see a couple, a man and a woman, as well as a little boy. Upon looking closer, she started crying. Dorothy with her hand on Ellie's shoulder could feel that her shaking had now been replaced with a tense, up and down motion. "They're not here anymore" despondently said Ellie. "No, they are not." "For how long have I been stuck?" "Time flows different in this realm, it isn't linear..." "Just answer me. Please..." "6 years. You've been here for 6 years." "Oh...I see..." "Come now, you must be exhausted and you deserve to rest." "Where are we going?" You'll see...