He pauses as he enters her bedroom:
    A catacomb, he thinks.

Row upon row of the dead cover the walls–
    Photographs–too many to count–
Family, friends, neighbors, lovers–
    Wedding photos, school photos,
Vacation photos, holiday photos–
    Ancestors in antique garb–
Children in swimsuits on forgotten beaches–
    Teenagers in bell bottoms and paisley–
Old people with walkers–
    Dads posing over BBQ grills–
Moms sitting primly on floral sofas–
    Faces crowded around Christmas trees–

How can she have slept in here? he wonders.

Too many memories–
    Too many whispers–
Too many ghosts–

They crowd against him,
    Pushing him back toward the door.
"Where is she?" they demand.
    "What have you done with her?"

He cannot breathe for the sadness.

Text and image © 2021 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
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