Memoirs

The Waiting

the waiting

we all sit there, just waiting

for someone who will never come back.

we sit there in the family room

anticipating a return that will never take place.

we're all waiting for the same person,

but none of us say who it is.

there's no need

i know who.

it's dad, of course.

we're waiting for dad

to come through the front door,

laden with luggage

and looking tired.

we're waiting for him to take our sorrow away

like he always did before.

we're waiting for him to tell us the story behind this mistake

and make us laugh along the way.

we're waiting for him to hug each of us

and tell us again and again that's he's not going away any time soon.

we're waiting for blair shannon to do his job:

protect, reassure, cheer.

but he never comes.