My Words, My World

99-word story: The Empty Chair

This week’s 99-word story is called The Empty Chair. Why? Well, that’s for you to decide.

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You know the worst thing about an empty chair? It rhymes with “no one there”, or worse, “where?”.  

There’s a place at the table where normally there’s a place mat, napkin, cutlery. Maybe a glass for the wine. 

Instead, just a piece of table cloth with nothing on it. 

No sitting down to grace, not that we ever did. No talk about the day, the weekend or whatever. 

The habit of turning my head, forkful of food in mid-air and talking. Now I just stare, straight ahead. And wonder.

You see, it’s not the empty chair. It’s the waiting.