Coming Undone
She always wore the same sweater. I've kept it all these years, and I wear it whenever my memories of her start to fade. Today, the last button came off, and I put it in the sweater's frayed pocket for safekeeping. When it slipped through a hole, and dropped between the floorboards, I finally realized that she was never coming home.
heirloom quilt
sparrow prints embossed
on new snow
Second Publisher's Choice Award, KYSO Flash HTP Writing Challenge
Commentary by KF Editors:
This little button of a haibun reminds us of the set-up in "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry, in which the consumptive young woman thinks that she'll die when the last leaf falls outside her window. "Coming Undone" avoids any clever plot twists and aims directly at the heart in a spare and effective way.
Excellent Debbie!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for taking the time to comment, Dave. I was thrilled, as you can imagine!
ReplyDeleteI love this!!! It reminds me to check in my mom`s closet if there are any sweaters left I could hold on to. How I miss her.
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly. I miss my mom, too, and wearing her old sweater brings me comfort.
ReplyDelete