The Departed

The house is empty now.

Echoes of familiar voices that once filled the hallways is now muffled by the heavy footfalls of strange feet. The morning sun shines through the living room windows and falls on unfamiliar furnishings.

The wind that once swirled through the greenery that climbed the garage and back porch to lightly touch upon the bistro set now finds only an empty spot in its place.

The green hedges that surrounded the immaculate gardens have stifled their last intrusive noise as they mutely surrender to the saw and the axe of the new owners.

Dinnertime laughter will still be heard, but it will come from different voices gathered around a foreign table.

No more late night coffee and early morning rides home after saving the realm from invaders. Gaming dice which mean either victory or defeat at the hands of monstrous hordes will no longer fall on this tabletop in this place on another Saturday night.

The house is sold.

My friends have parted and departed.

Separate, their lives start anew.

Soon, someday, their new homes will echo with familiar voices and the morning sun will shine upon familiar furnishings at new addresses. Friends will gather and laughter will again be heard. Late night coffee will stave off exhaustion and dice will once again bounce across the tabletop.

Someday...not today.

For now, today is a new beginning.

But every new beginning is another beginning's end.