Just Thought I'd Stop By

Just Thought I'd Stop By

Copyright 2014 Matt Cairone

All Rights Reserved

I drove into the cemetery. The sky was grey and the wind was cold. Flakes of snow swirled in the air. The wipers swept one after another off the windshield. It had been so long; I had trouble finding the sites. At last, I saw the two worn stones. One with my father’s name, the other with my mother’s. They had been under the ground, here, for many Christmases. Hard to believe how time flies.

I was alone. I thought about bringing flowers, but the idea never took hold.

I zipped my coat before opening the door and stepped out of the car. I walked toward the graves, crunching snow beneath my feet. I stood in front of the stones.

“I’m not sure why I’m here.”

The wind carried my words away.

“I miss you both.”

I pressed a hand on each stone and felt the cold.

I wiped my eyes as I eased the car onto the drive. I looked in the rearview mirror, before leaving them for good.