The Empty Red Seat

I remember rain tapping at the diner window. The smooth white table we sat at held ketchup, salt, and her mournful face cradled in the palm of her hand. The menu appeared as eye-catching as a butterfly in the dark to her. Her dull eyes only scanned the cars outside, drifting by like weary clouds.

At the slightest push, the checkered floor looked ready to fall one by one. But it was us who had fallen, each piece out of place through years of doubt and frustration. 

In the past, our time together flew by, and any silence between us was fine. But this kind of silence was excruciating. It was hard to talk with a stomach full of uncertainty. Four years of magic ended painfully. Other people entered our lives and things became complicated. "I'll call ya," she said. We both knew she never would.

In the foggy windshield, her head leaned forward for a minute before pulling away. Then, with the red taillights reflecting off the wet pavement, I watched, silently saying goodbye, all the while knowing a part of me just drifted away... like a gray, weary cloud.

Author's Note

Note to self: The poem has been slightly expanded from a poem format to a story format. Thanks to anyone who reviews. :)

Reviews

[Enchanted-Raven]

You express yourself so very well, vivid imagery..tugs at the heart strings....well penned my friend :) x

[Relic]

Thank you Raven. :) x

[terry smith]

Like a puzzle that you lose pieces to...after a time you can't tell what the picture is anymore...Nice write Relic!

[Relic]

Thanks Terry.

[Lily Mae]

There's a place here in my home town that is just like this.. I sit alone and watch the dynamics between people..relationships, communication and how they eventually die and the crowd changes... I love how your words captured all that in such a dynamic way..xo

[Relic]

Thanks so much Lily. :)

[Kelly Scheppers]

I knew from the moment I saw the graphic, this was going to be something palpable and memorable. From your mention of the rain, right down to the checkers on the floor looking like dominoes in long rows...I felt I could have been sitting in a window seat, fumbling with the menu and salt shaker.

Great feeling to this, Tim. I'm certain it echoes a nostalgic memory for many!

[Relic]

Thanks so much for reading it Kelly. :)

[Autumn Lyric]

Down time in the diner and add an uncomfortable silence into the framework. You did a fine job of making the reader feel as though he/she were right there. Fell in love the vintage feel, too.

[Relic]

Thank you very much LaShaye.

[Sarah Wolfe]

I really love the imagery in this and all the different descriptions. I feel like I'm sitting there in the diner myself. Excellent work

[Relic]

Thanks very much Sarah. :)

[Gee]

Oh yes,beautiful,could have been sitting there myself.Wonderful piece of work old bean,spiffing,top hole........

[Relic]

haha, thanks Gee.

[Sami Khalil]

Sad but beautiful. Those weary clouds need to carry their rain and share it with thirsty lands. A wonderful narration...:)..............

[Relic]

Thanks very much Sami.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome. .....:)......

[Zahra]

This is so wonderfully crafted. loved the visuals. very well penned

[Relic]

Thank you Zahra.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

read this again...liked it even more...sometimes there is no more that can be said...it is just felt.

and those comfortable silences, become too long and uncomfortable.

[Relic]

Yes, they do. Thank you Jacob.