The Empty Side of Mum's Bed

 

"The Empty side of my mum's bed raised me better than my dad would have."

My father had a gift.

He could disappear in plain sight. 

Present at every meal, yet never for once asked me how my day was.

And when he finally left, he didn't even slam the door. 

He just...faded; like an echo of a man who had stopped trying not to be heard. 

And from then, I hated the sound of clocks.

Because they tick louder when you're waiting for someone who said they'd come back but never really meant it. 

My dad never left a note, but every empty chair he left behind still screams louder than he ever did. 

© amimoh_ombogo