Kitchen window

 Standing at her kitchen window, she looked outside, remembering days and decades past when her children played, their voices still echoing in her ears. She stood alone, the quiet only broken as a flock of birds headed South to escape the coming cold of winter.

Her tulip bulbs were planted, each one receiving a word of encouragement as she felt the rich soil one last time until winter's harshness gave way to spring's rebirth.

She didn't mind being alone most of the time as she had her chores to keep herself busy and her memories to fill the emptiness and quiet. She sometimes thought she was being punished for something and her sentence was life alone, but those thoughts left quickly when the phone rang, and her eldest child called to say hello.

She stood at her kitchen window and wiped away a tear rolling down her weathered face, knowing that one day, another Mom would stand where she once did, watching her children play as a sudden feeling she couldn't explain came to rest upon her heart.

There will be no more kitchen windows, no more stirring memories, and no more being alone as she stands in a field of tulips surrounded by family and friends with open arms.

Mike 2025