Unwilling Departures
“Is there anything left in the house ?"
"No we’re set."
"Great, lock it up and let’s leave."
"Wait mom, I need to check something."
Nitin rushed back into the empty house. His boots were echoing through the house; the same echo he heard when he first entered there four years ago. He went to his room and found a mark on the wall near the door, and a little drawing of a stick figure dancing next to it. That was his height marked three years ago. He touched that drawing and a bunch of tears let themselves out and rolled down his cheeks. He only got a few moments before he felt a hand sit gently on his shoulder.
"It's getting dark now, come on."
"Yeah”.
Nitin took a big sniff and had one last look at the little drawing before turning off the lights on his way out.
