The Sound of Silence

Short Story by: Haileigh

Reads: 604 | Likes: 0 | Shelves: 0 | Comments: 3

the thoughts of an old woman who wonders what it will feel like to die and if she will be missed.

Her thin, frail body rests upon the small, rusty bed it’s been resting on for the last nine years. Her legs, swollen from lack of circulation, lay on a tired pillow at the end of the mattress.News shuffles around the television screen, but she doesn’t hear or see what’s new.She sits, propped against several more withered pillows, as if submerged in a tank of water.She watches everyone else, but no one watches or worries about her.She wonders if anyone will notice when she dies or if everyone’s lives will be changed for the better.She wonders how Benny felt when he died. He, a master of putting on false charm while around his little sister, was indescribably adored by her. He, the last of her siblings to die, left her to wonder who would miss her other than the ones burdened by her for so long.

Her granddaughter, now thirty seven, waits at her bedside every day, attending to every one of her many needs.Separated by more than three generations, her great grand children moan and stomp when told to visit her, but she still greets them with a watermelon smile, excited to catch a glimpse of their maturing faces.Before they can scurry out of the room, she snatches them up, equipped with old pictures and letters in hand.Trapped in the humid, pungent room, they shift their body weight from side to side, intentionally looking bored and desperate to get back to Myspace or videogames.She recognizes their impatience and the watermelon smile is devoured.

Her storytelling fades and she tells the children, “that’s all”, and they hurry out.Once again she rests upon that rusty, old bed, watching the door and waiting.

Submitted: August 17, 2009

Other die sound woman silence afraid

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Comments

KatieChan

That was sad. =(

Mon, August 17th, 2009 8:29am

justbeformlessly

gee, that was sad, but very well written :) great imagery! i.e.: "greets them with a watermelon smile"

very nice job.

Tue, August 18th, 2009 7:36pm

KimmieA

I like sad stories but this isn't sad at all, it is more like the reality of life, Everyone is bound to die and everyone is just waiting for it, whether they say it or not.

Thu, October 1st, 2009 11:58pm