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Wednesday - September 15

Aunt Ruth shrugs her shoulders, and says, "We won't know until you open it, dear."

Claire opens the folder and removes its contents. The contents are computer printout sheets that were used in the early part of the 21st century. Claire opens one of the folded sheets to see what it reads. She begins to cry. Aunt Ruth grabs her arm, and Claire signals that it's all right. As she continues reading, Aunt Ruth watches the tears cascading down her cheeks.

Aunt Ruth says, "Come, dear, we must go. Tuck the folder inside your coat pocket and let's leave this place. Come, Claire, come."

Claire rolls the folder up and tucks it into her inside coat pocket. Making sure it's secure, she looks at Aunt Ruth, and says, "Let's go."

As Claire and Aunt Ruth make their way through the congested pathway, Claire says, "Stop!"

"What? Stop? Why are we stopping, Claire?"

Claire points to a box that reads, "Claire's stuff." Claire picks up the box to see if it's heavy; it's not. She seizes it, tucks it under her arm, and signals Aunt Ruth to continue.

Reaching the doorway, they see the chauffeur standing guard. He sees the box in Claire's arm and relieves her of it. Claire takes the padlock and locks the unit. All three of them head back to the car. After the chauffeur opens the door for both women, he hands the box back to Claire. Aunt Ruth signals him to go, and immediately, they exit Storage 28 as quickly as they had entered.

Not wanting to see the contents of the box until she's safely back home, Claire embraces it, as if it was a lost treasure that vanished millennia ago. Not knowing what "Claire's stuff" is, she can only hope that they're things from her childhood that she so much wants to remember.

After taking a different route back, they arrive at the apartment. When Aunt Ruth is out of the car, she whispers something to the chauffeur. Claire watches as the chauffeur shakes his head affirmatively. He tips his hat to Aunt Ruth, then gets back into the car and disappears like a bat in the night.

Claire dashes up the stairs and orders the door to open. She quickly enters and throws her boots, coat, and accessories on the floor, not caring where they lay. Aunt Ruth calmly steps inside, shuts the door, picks up Claire's coat, boots, and accessories and puts them in their proper place.

After Aunt Ruth takes care of her belongings, she looks for Claire. She goes into the living room and doesn't find her there. She heads down the hallway to the kitchen and doesn't find her there either. Letting out a "hum" sound, Aunt Ruth decides to check Claire's bedroom. With the door ajar, Aunt Ruth sees Claire sitting on the edge of the bed with the box gripped tightly in her hands. Aunt Ruth cautiously, and quietly, walks towards Claire and sits gently beside her. The only noise being heard is the snow crunching under Atlanta's inhabitants bumbling about outside in the frigid cold. Aunt Ruth sits patiently alongside Claire in silence.

After five minutes, Claire goes to the vanity and pulls out a pair of scissors. Nervous, she begins to cut away the aged tape that had kept the box secure for many years. After dissecting the tape, she apprehensively opens the box flaps and reveals things that she hasn't seen since she was little.

Lying on top is a folded piece of pink construction paper. Carefully, Claire takes it out and sees a red heart pasted on the front. Trying not to rip the fragile paper, she opens it, and reads what she had crayoned with her toddler fingers. "I love you, Mommy. Forever! Love, Claire." Claire begins to cry as she remembers making this for her mom on Valentine's Day when she was six years old.

Unaware that Aunt Ruth has been standing over her shoulders, Claire turns to her, giving a gleeful giggle, and hands Aunt Ruth the homemade card for her to read. Aunt Ruth takes the card with careful measures so as not to destroy former memories.