Time is Precious

Apart

Apart ©2022 Written by A. E. F.
All Rights Reserved.

The mud-caked firestones crunched along the wet gravel, as he pulled his dented truck into their deserted drive.

He kicked his scuffed Caterpillars off on her empty gingerbread porch, and ran his grease-callused fingers through his wind-knotted hair.

The hinges of their wooden screen door whined as he opened it wide, like she had done to his heart when she left in the rain last night.

Their bedroom bath still smelled like her rosemary mint body wash. A mascara-stained tissue hid beneath the sparkling bowl. But her Dove bar soaps were all gone, along with the rest of his soul.

That checkered, gray comforter bunched within his aching arms,
as he tossed between their Kohl's cotton flannel sheets. What was once so soft had now become unbearably rough. The heat which had warmed his bed, had taken its leave with her parting rush.