Years Lost - Years Gained

“What’s wrong with you?! 
Let me go. It’s not like y’all will miss me.” 
She shifted impatiently in her seat 
Willing the light to change. 

He turned to gaze at her. 
She happened to glance his way, 
And saw with a shock; 
The wrinkles fanning from the corner 
Of his saddened eyes; 
The drying skin lined 
With fine sketches of the cares of the years; 
The increasingly prominent white, 
Inevitable victors of the battle with the black; 
What knifed her heart the most 
Was the expression in those eyes, 
The silent plea and the unreturned love 
In those brown eyes. 
The pain inflicted by her impertinence. 
Involuntarily an image flashed in her mind; 
An old photograph, crumbling at the edges, 
Of a vibrant young man 
With laughing eyes to match his smile, 
Jet black hair jauntily flaunting 
The latest style… 
The sadness deepened, 
As his eyes crinkled, 
The glimmer of tears, 
“We miss you…” 

The light changed. 
A horn blared. 
A car whizzed by. 
He turned away. 
The moment was gone; 
Forever seared in her heart. 


Christina De Silva 
10 February 2009