Silence

The day was bright with only wisps of clouds in the sky. A man with a wrinkled brow and a weathered face sat outside. The wind tousled his hair that had gone straw-like with age. A crowd was around him, silent. A woman that was still a girl walked up and sat in the chair next to him. "How are you this beautiful day?"

 

There was only silence in return. She wondered why there was no response. Maybe his hearing was gone. She asked again, a little louder, "How are you doing these days?"

Still, there was only silence. With hesitant hands she unpinned the withered corsage from his coat and put on a fresh one. It was crimson, lovely arranged with a bit of fern and baby's breath. The woman's face had a far away look as memories flood back of her childhood. As a child she would sit on her daddy's lap, and smell the sweetness of the rose pinned to his lapel. Shaking her head she jumped back into the now. "Do you know I'm in college? I do quite well, but I don't have a real goal in mind."

 

The silence was deafening. Looking to her hands folded in her lap, she wondered if he was proud of her. He had never finished High School because of family troubles. Maybe graduating from college would break the silent spell that he had spun upon her.

 

She had worn her best pair of jeans and a forest green sweater. Green had been his favorite color. He had loved being outdoors. Once upon a time they had gone camping for weeks on end. There had been so much to share. Spying on animals through trees, picking berries, learning about edible plants, and most of all how much he loved his little girl.

Words died on her lips as she started to say something and then stopped because of his silence. She tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear and tried once last time. "I met someone. He's a really great guy. He works in a restaurant as a chef. I think he might be the one."

Again only silence. If this man was the one, would her father walk her down the aisle? Would he give her away? Or would he sit here silent?

 

There was nothing left for her to say and although there were many questions, she knew there would be no answers. And there never would be. He had taken himself out of her life permanently. With a sad smile and a heavy heart she walked home from the cemetery.