In a heart-shaped box, my mother kept my baby teeth. It was something she had done to my older brother, sister, and myself. I was now looking at it, slightly disgusted and debating on if I should throw it out. But first...

I took a deep breath.

There were a ton of boxes. "Ugh," I sighed, to nobody. All these boxes were to head downstairs, with no elevator, into a small, compact car. I would have to make a few trips. It might be quicker if I trashed the boxes and their belongings and started from scratch.

"Do you need any help," a voice said from my doorway. I looked up. It was my mother. Her frail frame fit fully in the space the door provided, even if it was only a little bit open. "What's that you have in your hand?"

I felt bad for my mom. After I moved out, she would have nobody. My dad died seven years earlier - my brother moved out that same year, off to college, just like I was now. My sister met some guy on the internet and moved away when she turned 18. She barely kept in touch, but I didn't blame her. It came to light only a few years earlier, the year she moved out, that dad was abusing her. It really messed my mom up. I had no idea if my mom knew of the abuse or not, but she changed ever since the truth was revealed.

"Oh, uh, it's the teeth box," I said, ashamed that I was about to throw it away. "I found it with my stuff."

"Oh, my," she whispered, taking it from me. "This is my most valued possession. No matter where you kids go, I'll always have a piece of you with me."

I looked away, feeling bad that I was moving out. Leaving her here alone like this was pulling at my heartstrings. "Are you going to be okay here, by yourself?"

She looked up, tears forming in her eyes. "Don't leave. I don't -"

"I meant, do you want to...you know, go into a retirement home?" I felt instantly bad as soon as the words left my mouth. "The only reason I say that is because this house is old, and -"

"And I'm old, too?"

"..." Damn, I really messed up this time. Stupid me with my stupid words.

"I won't be lonely; I'll always have a piece of you with me."

I looked at the teeth box. It was turned upside down; she had spilled the teeth onto the floor.

"Mom?"

"Time to start a new collection."

She reached into my mouth and yanked. Blood spilled as I felt numerous teeth come loose from the gums.