Right Next Door

© Trysten Cain

There was an astounding sound. It felt like a vacuum ripping and tearing at the air. Flesh and light disappeared and tears fell from his eyes. Old oak trees found their thousand year existence underneath heavy meat and bone. Only time made a sound before the gasps from across the room.

She picked her fragile frame from off the floor and leaned against the counter.

Their eyes met and he lowered his arm. It felt dense and full with an intensity he’d never imagine he could bare. He blinked one two three times. The room didn’t fade away.

She picked silver off the floor and threw threats into the sink. Outside was bright and clouds waved indifferently through the window. The cold chill that crept up her back caused her face to ache.

He took a chair from the uneven table and slowly sat as if expecting betrayal.

Cold meat stung the dark swelling and she decided against crossing to his sitting.

The room was split so they felt themselves on opposite ends of the universe. Their misery spread across the floor before them. There was a long silence. No eyes met for an eternity.

From his scalp crimson blinded his sight. Adrenaline masked any pain of future scars.

She slid against the refrigerator door and met the ground with a thump. Papers and pictures snowed from tiny magnets letting free captured moments. She stared down at the smiling pictures of her present sorrows.

He looked up at her for the first time in days.

Their eyes met and their hearts lifted. The silence was shattered by laughing. Like none the walls had ever heard. Laughing that caused water to run free. That opened the heavens and broke through the darkness. That buried thoughts from the past. They laughed for a very long time. The moon uncovered itself and watched over the millions of stars.

He sat up from his chair and slowly stepped over the gap.

She looked up at her son and smiled, raising her hand to his.

They stood beside each other in silence before embracing. She smiled at him as he kissed her cheek and left the room.

She set the meat back in the freezer and picked up the fallen trinkets. The clock’s rhythm danced in the background. She began to hum and couldn’t take the smile from herself.
The door closed behind her.

He placed the shovel again st the counter and bent down at his feet. Grabbing firmly at the ankles he pulled back, falling to his ass with old birthday presents in hand.

They worked together, sharing another laugh. Sharing another smile. Sharing another start.