Places Unknown

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She gets out the griddle

They used to joke it’ll be a family heirloom

As old as you are

Put that away, he says –

Let’s have waffles instead

She looks up

The steam dissipates and

The face is gone

Meet me at 8, he says — can you be there?

Yes, she replies –

She gets up and showers

No makeup, hair a mess

Throws on clothes

The sign says homemade eggs and hash

It’s still there

The hustle-bustle of the morning

Cheery waitress with a smile

The table is missing one

Standing in line at the deli

The familiar dialogue –

Dave’s Deli is delicious, he says

The roast beef’s so good

I’ll have a half pound sliced thin

She smiles — always the same order

Hearing the rustle of the plastic

Half expecting to see him making a sandwich

There’s just an empty plate

They say with time everything heals

They say a person is never truly gone

Always with you in spirit

But spirit isn’t reality

Spirit isn’t the voice

Spirit won’t let her touch

And never ever let go

She touches the ground

There’s a fresh stone in the row

A red rose like he always loved

Swaying in the breeze

The silence can hear all as she whispers –

Dad, this one’s for you