I started working on this piece several years ago, but I could never get it quite right. Then, my dad passed away and the words just came to me. I’m honored to have it featured by The Short of It.
Tag: loss
Unforgettable
She held out her arms to hug me, but I knew this wasn’t my house — and she definitely wasn’t my wife.
Or was she?
I searched my mind for a memory of her face, and I felt … something. Like a name on the tip of my tongue or a tune that I could hum but the words were not quite right. She smiled and, again, I felt … something. Like a dog’s cold nose on a sunny summer day or the smell of coffee in the morning. Familiar. Safe.
But no! The room was wrong. Where were my things? Why was everything so shiny and white? It was all wrong! She was all wrong!
I wasn’t married. I was only 20. But why did she keep saying she was my wife? Why was her face so familiar? Maybe she was my mom’s friend. Why was that song stuck in my head?
Panicked, I turned to run and stopped dead in my tracks. Stunned by my reflection. I touched my face and felt the deep scar across my forehead. Ran my fingers through my hair. Why was it so white? That’s not me. That’s definitely not me.
Or was it?
I searched my mind for a memory of that face and felt … something. I watched the tears run down that face as I softly hummed the song stuck in head.
Unforgettable, she said.

Fandango’s Story Starter #148
static possibility
muttering murmurs
the doors open on the right
light and sound distort
in the moment time stands still
static possibility

I ride the train a lot, so my mind went in many directions but the empty seats strongly evoked the ideas of loss and hope–that liminal moment of unknown. Thanks for the inspiration to Reena’s Xploration Challenge
that ruthless calendar
watching the days pass
spring, summer, fall, without you
a new year begins
and one more month races by
relentless and unyielding

thanks to JusJoJan for this chance to mark a sad anniversary.
renewal
a mourning dove cries
lamenting the loss of love
still, the sun rises

Thanks for the photo inspiration to Crispina Kemp’s Creative Challenge