the suitcase

At last the front door slams shut.
Familiar footsteps fade
as another door closes
over the sound of a running engine,
growing fainter as it drives down the road.
Frozen immobility changes to a rush
of hurried footstep running up stairs.
Closets and drawers, opening and closing.
Things,
being thrown in an old brown suitcase on the floor.
A mish-mash of favourites and necessities.
Back down the stairs,
the squeaking of sneakers
on tile floors tracing
her movement around house.
In a rush of silence
she feels eternity in those 5 seconds,
as she looks at the door,
breathing deeply,
as feelings of love, lost,
regret and hope
mingle with broken dreams…
She slowly bends down to pick up her stuff,
moves past the door
and determinedly locks it behind her.
Then takes the key off
the keyring
and without looking back
tosses it over her shoulder.
Into her car
with that which she has
and she too drives away

without a backward glance…

picture: http://olegbreslavtsev.deviantart.com/art/autumn-106104217