The train ride is an hour ride from my house to my office, its not so bad. I can read or people watch but mostly I get lost in my own head. Every little thing reminds me of her. From the soft songs filling my ears to the simple color of yellow. Its been almost three years since she died I mean. I don’t do much, I don’t have a ton of friends and no family. My life is pretty depressing.

5:35 PM

Getting off the train I start the fifteen-minute walk to my house. Its quiet, peaceful, rainy. The way I like it.

After a while I began to hear chirps, I thought nothing of it at first but then I got curious as to what the noise was and made my way down the ravine.

A tiny white bird was lying there wet and distraught. I took my jacket off and approached. I stooped down and gently picked the fragile thing up, continuing my walk. The dove reminded me of something but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

6:00 PM

When I got home I dug up an old shoebox, cut holes in it and put the dove inside, leaving the box under a heating lamp I used to use for my lizards. I stepped back admiring my handy work.

“There,” I said and preceded to get ready for bed.

4:00 AM

I sat up breathing heavily, I heard thunder which didn’t help my post-nightmare. I leaned over for my phone and tapped the first contact.

“Hello?” I heard.

“Hey, I’m sorry I’m calling so late its just-” I whispered.

“Did you have another nightmare?” he asked and I sighed saying a small “Yes”

“I’m on the way,” he said before I could object.

I waited a while but finally, I heard a knock at my door. I got up and opened it to see my sympathetic best friend holding two cups of coffee. I smiled and let him in.

5:00 AM

“So you wanna tell me what it was about?” he said

“It was just the same dream, the car accident, etc,” I said back.

“ Evan… you got to heal, you need to move on this is... This is messing you up.” He said making me angry.

“Don't you think I've tried?” I yelled with tears pooling up.

“I know you've tried but you always reverted back, come live with me, you can go back to college and-”

“I can't just forget her Charlie, shes everywhere. When I wake up when I'm walking or on the train, shes spelled out in the pages of the damn books! I can't do this anymore!”

“Yes you can, I'm going to help you,” he said and before I could say anything else there was loud chirping.

“What is that?” Charlie asked. I sniffed and wiped my tears as I got up and walked to the faded shoe box.

“Hey, you're awake,” I said to the bird as I gently opened the box to take a peak. I looked outside to notice it wasn't raining anymore and the sun was coming up.

“Come on we are gonna go let this little guy go,” I said grabbing my coat.

6:40 AM

Standing on top of the hill I opened the box and gently picked the bird up with two hands.

“Okay,” I said looking at him.

“Okay what?” he asked

“I wanna move on, I wanna let go. Not forget... but let go of the pain.” I said and he smiled. We both looked down at the tiny bird and I realized how much it reminded me of her. I smiled more and opened my hands letting the graceful being slip out and fly away with a final chirp as a goodbye, and thank you.

I turned back around and pulled Evan into a hug whispering a small thankyou back. Its time to let go.

And behind them, as they embraced, a small white dove feather falls slowly on the ground reminding them that love is everywhere. It may not be an easy process but there is always a way to heal.

Challenge

letting go

put letting go into words, poetry or prose

MaquisLeader

Now That You’re Gone

You've been gone a while now

I guess it should have been plain,

That even though you left,

I would grow out of the pain.

I no longer miss you

When walking in the wood.

That was something hard

And I had no idea I could.

When I wear my sneakers,

You do not cross my mind.

Maybe this is wrong or something

But it's nice to not pine.

I can watch Doctor Who

And not cry for your laugh.

I also don't forgo

Watching new episodes on your behalf.

I don't see you dancing

Whenever I watch Rio.

Or hear you sing

When I listen to the radio.

I stopped crying.

I stopped waiting for you to come back.

I am finally letting go.

My life is is back on track.

Challenge

letting go

put letting go into words, poetry or prose

Kim_50

te desidero

i miss you

and the way your eyes looked so longingly into mine

like perfect gems,

they glimmered with the glints of fresh love,

of childish admiration

your irises seemed so dark,

yet they always seemed to pool with adoration

when you gazed into mine

i miss you

and the way you weaved your words into poems,

the clusters of letters that

enraptured my very soul

the small phrases you would utter every now and then,

that sent shivers racing down my spine

i miss you

and your hands,

the fingers that fit so perfectly into mine,

with warm palms and a caring touch,

my missing puzzle piece that completed my life

i was whole,

with you

i was me,

with you

i miss you

and your rosy cheeks that

flushed whenever our lips touched,

tongues dancing with the taste of

honeysuckle-flavored lip balm

when i would cup your face in my hands

you’d smile into the kiss with adoration

and caress my skin with your thumbs,

brushing over the surface like it was made of silk

you’d always bring me gifts

and care for me whenever nobody else did

you’d wipe my tears and let me

sob into your shoulder

then pat my back and whisper sweet nothings in my ear

sometimes i regret losing you

everyday, actually

but i’m happy

to see you stress-free

and living life as it should be lived

we’re still friends

and i know you love me so much

but right now it’s not the best time for either of us

we have separate goals to work towards

i know one day we can be happy together

i know you know the same thing

you’re smart

caring

amazing

everything that my mother would have wanted,

funnily enough

but now is not the time

it’s time to let go of the past

and move towards the future

a future where we can both thrive in

Challenge

letting go

put letting go into words, poetry or prose

Vyxyn

In Passing

When he came into her life, he was this

floppy, clumsy all feet and legs and ears.

She knew he was good, but he really was

Great!

He was destined for greatness it seemed.

He passed every test perfectly, he was so

well behaved he hardly ever got in trouble.

They both had some rough things to live through,

in his first year he got a terrible case of warts and

the Dr. had to take care of that.

Then right after that he came down with cancer.

She was already very ill herself but she didn’t care

about herself now all she cared about was him and making him better. They removed the tumor and toe, said it wouldn’t come back but it did two more times in two more months. On different toes! She just didn’t think she could handle much more. Her sweet baby boy was so sick, she was sick, it just seemed like everyone was dying.

She spoon fed him chicken broth until he got better and then baby food. Then there was no stopping him!

Since then he has taken her everywhere, malls, schools, lobbying at the state capital, fundraisers, all kinds of public places and meeting all kinds of interesting people.

But most of all he’s been her bestest buddy in the whole world, heck he has been her whole world.

He hugged her and licked her tears when her other buddies died, Horses Mo and Zeus. He cried with her when the “Ol Men”Patric and Dobby died.

He’s taken very good care of her and she has him.

Now he’s looking quite shabby, most of his hair has worn off and he’s gotten quite grey in the face.

He’s not so steady anymore, his hind leg shakes a bit, and his sight is going dim. He sleeps longer now than ever before.

It’s never easy to say goodbye, but I know that day is coming sooner than later and I keep trying to prepare for it, but I can’t. There will never be another one like my dear sweet boy, Tigger.

To let him go, to release him into the great beyond

My only prayer would be that he pass in his sleep.