Three minutes ago, she walked down the stairs. It's midday and she's leaving again. She has a life to start. Three months ago, her leaving was temporary. It was triggered by her graduation and her out-of-town fiancé. The empty space left behind was a sieve. He filled it with beer, girls, burritos, blame. Mostly beer. Two minutes ago she drove away after saying goodbye forever. Years from now, he’ll heal himself. He’ll feel again. The empty space will shrink. Now he walks down the stairs. It's midday and he's going to the bar again. He has a sieve to fill.
Chris Grossmann stopped trying to fill sieves many years ago. He is happily married, in love, and has four daughters. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Find Chris on Twitter @drgomek.