Summary

“Break All the Way Down” is a short story documenting a mother’s recovery following the untimely death of her 14-month-old son.

The narrator Natasha wakes up when Anna Lisa, the mother of her boyfriend’s child, shows up at her boyfriend’s front door with her baby and a large duffel bag. She is severely worn-out and tells the narrator that she can no longer take care of her child and is leaving her baby with her. Natasha is confused and asks if she meant that she was leaving her baby with her boyfriend, but Anna Lisa reaffirms that she would like the narrator to take care of her baby. Natasha reluctantly agrees and looks over a detailed journal documenting the baby’s likes, dislikes and daily schedule left behind by Anna Lisa.

When Natasha comes home with a...