Empty

The mother two houses away from me sat in her chair all day.

I'd go to school in the morning and there she was knitting,

then in the after noon there she was again sewing a pare of pants.

Everyday I'd walk to the bus stop and there the woman would be,

she'd wave and smile, then go back to work.

One day I came home from school and there were two kids playing in her yard.

 One was about 10 the other was my age 13, they were sword fighting with big fat sticks.

One day I walked pass the old woman's home and she was weeping.

I saw that she was wearing all black and she was pale and crying quietly.

I ran home and told Mama that the woman was crying, but she looked at me funny...like I had three heads.

"Mama, didn't you hear me?" I asked

"Yes dear, I did hear you...loud and clear." She paused 

"Then what's wrong?"

She took a deep breath.

"Honey, no one's lived there in over 10 years. The mothers oldest son died, she killed herself out on the front porch" 

I took a step back and then dashed out the front door Mama's voice calling after me. I sprinted to the old woman's house.

For the first time in months the woman was gone. All that was there was her chair. She was gone, like she'd never lived there.

I said a silent prayer then walked home in silence, lost in my own world.