Dust to Ashes

He left the unmade bed
and the desk’s dark clutter
The ceiling was still gray
from the time she set the furniture on fire
but
everything had to be the same
The crib was naked
He turned and watched the curtains dance
sensuously
The bathroom was sterile
He lit a candle
in remembrance
to remember

He had to hang her stockings
to remember

His cigarette went out
He lit another
properly placed it in the ashtray
He was careful to apply the correct amount of lipstick
to the filter.

He heard the phone ring
Heard it say
I’m Sorry and
It won’t be the same
No, he said,
and hung up
feeling sick.

He stroked the cigarette
and the right mixture of ash
fell silently
and replaced some dust
his moving had disturbed.        

Comments

[Adherezpector]

I'm with Jodie. Burn it. That hat shouldn't even come out for snow egmeeencirs. What were those people thinking that designed it? Oh, right. There are people like Rick who will buy it! That's right!If he HAS to keep it, only in severe blizzards when no one can actually see through the heavy snow. Like at the Overlook Hotel in The Shining.[]