I'm in the process of moving from New York to Texas. It's been over a decade since I made a substantial move, packing the entirety of my life into cardboard boxes salvaged from my apartment building's recycling room. The boxes are full of clothes, video games, and various electronics, but what I've stored most carefully between the softest blanket and pillows are the memory boxes. To be honest, I never knew the term memory box to be a thing; I just called them "important shoe boxes." Inside, I keep random scraps of paper, movie tickets, and photographs that remind me of key moments from my life.

Today, Dezeen taught me about a memory box that blurs the line between life and afterlife. Dutch designer Mark Sturkenboom's 21 Grams is a grey, wooden memory box, protected by a gold-plated brass key that can be worn by its owner or protector. Inside the box is a scent diffuser and an amp, that connects to an iPhone and plays music through its floral-shaped speaker holes. There's also a blown-glass dildo, that holds a golden urn, which can carry a human's ashes.

"21 Grams is a memory-box that allows a widow to go back to the intimate memories of a lost beloved one," explained Sturkenboom. "After a passing, the missing of intimacy with that person is only one aspect of the pain and grief. This forms the base for 21 Grams. The urn offers the possibility to conserve 21 grams of ashes of the deceased and displays an immortal desire. "By bringing different nostalgic moments together like the scent of his perfume, 'their' music, reviving the moment he gave her her first ring, it opens a window to go back to moments of love and intimacy," he said.

The box, shown during Milan design week, features an additional slot where the owner can carry other memories. Dezeen has more info on Sturkenboom and his provocative, but warm-hearted work. As shocking as 21 Grams might sound, its look and intention is so cute and sincere. It's like the starting point of a Miranda July short story.

★★★