No, I’m not away for the day. “Absence” is the name of the story. It’s longer than yesterday’s but shorter than the others I’ve done so far.
I said yesterday that I love writing exercises. This was one. I pulled three words out of a ramble I’d written down and never done anything with and, using the tone of the ramble, wrote this. I’ll put the three words at the end of the post.
Anywho, here it is:
Absent
by Marian Allen
I look through the window, down, down, toward the park, and the bench where we used to sit.
We walked along those paths so many times. We shared so many hot dogs from that vendor on the corner. We fed so many pigeons. Watched so many mommys and nannys walk so many babies. Cheered at so many races. Visited that zoo. Rode that carousel.
Your absence is an ache that never leaves. Your absence is a hole in my life that can never close, and it’s filled with all the love I can no longer give you. I love other people, but their love is their love. Yours is still with me, packing ever more tightly into the hole you left, aching, reminding me that you were there and now you’re not. And yet you are.
Sometimes the ache overflows and leaks down my face in the form of salty water and I know you’ll always be part of my life.
Sometimes the ache overflows and leaks into my brain in the form of memories and I know you’re very much alive.
Just absent.
I think about following you. I imagine opening the window and falling, down, down, down, toward the park, and the bench where we used to sit.
Then I turn away and take the stairs. I have a hot dog to buy, pigeons to feed, and people to watch.
~ * ~
I think that’s a happy little story. Of course, I am MomGoth.
It’s Tuesday, so I’m also posting at Fatal Foodies with a frittata recipe.
MY WRITING PROMPT TODAY: absent, window, bench
MA
Holly Jahangiri
May 7, 2013 at 1:31pmHappy, eh? Kind of like Wednesday Addams smiling? π
Marian Allen
May 7, 2013 at 4:30pm“Mommy, I’m scared!” — No, happy like love remains. π
W.S. Gager
May 7, 2013 at 4:32pmI’m with Holly. Love the description in the story but not the description of the story. How’s that?
Wendy
Marian Allen
May 7, 2013 at 5:33pmI often find that people think stories are sad which I think are happy. Possibly a side effect of being dysthymic. π
Kiril Kundurazieff
May 7, 2013 at 4:38pmVery nice and moving, too.
Long day.
In prep for my Blog Paws Conferfence adventure, next week, I ventured forth to conquer the mystery of Wi-Fi, on my laptop, at a local McDonalds. π
By the time I got home Nikita had his Day 7 story ready to post. π
A 100 Word Cat Story 15: Moving On
Marian Allen
May 7, 2013 at 5:34pmOh, that Mr. Nikita! He’s always on the job! Will he maintain the blog while you’re at the conference, or will I have to live a week without knowing what’s happening to Aubrey?
Kiril Kundurazieff
May 7, 2013 at 7:22pmOur blogs will have scheduled posts for each day so the adventures of Aubrey will not miss a beat.
I will try to post alerts in the comments, here, about Aubrey posts, but they should auto appear in my twitter each day.
Bob Sanchez
May 7, 2013 at 6:13pmCheers to you too, Marian! π
judy pierce
May 8, 2013 at 3:32pmWell, it made me sad as it reminded me of beloved people in my life who I have lost. That said, it is a reminder to cherish those who still share my life.
Marian Allen
May 8, 2013 at 3:43pmJudy, I had many losses in mind as I wrote the piece. But I’m grateful for the sorrow, if that makes any sense, because it’s by the sorrow that I know they’re still part of my experience, even though it’s through the ache of their absence. …No, I guess it doesn’t make sense, but that’s me.
judy pierce
May 8, 2013 at 3:53pmActually it makes a lot of sense. It does remind us that we are alive, that we have loved deeply, that we can feel sad and grieve but still move ahead in our lives. Some losses are such harder than others. I love the stories you write.
Marian Allen
May 8, 2013 at 4:10pmJudy, some losses are very hard, indeed. Thank you for visiting and for sharing your heart. Hugs!