the deserted house
slowly swallowed by the ground
encircled in dread and depression
abandoned
haunted now by solitude
…no one comes or goes
irrelevant to all but me
doors wide open
as if to say “please enter”
always the same
nothing to find, nothing to see
all rooms vacant except the one
locked…
entrance forbidden
no key ever found
I sit and stare
imagining what exists within
perhaps a present wrapped in pretty paper
with blue ribbons tied in bows
gifted to one who left this life before their time
maybe the key was grief
taken with those who moved on from this place
those who could no longer bear the loneliness
so I return from time to time
to that same hallway
sitting and wondering who slept behind that door
are they still here?
does my vigilance bring any comfort?
no voices
just dead silence
mortality suddenly becomes real