I have been watching these as they appeared on The Writers Bloc, but until now never tried to do one myself. This is the first ~ Smiles ~ I really like the idea of these and will probably try and do more in the future.
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The Empty Building
It has been a two decades since my family moved out of our old house. I had climbed onto the back seat of the family car and waved frantically as one would to an old friend. To me, the house was an old friend and I trusted that it would be in safe hands after our departure. That it would have the chance to give joy to another family as it had mine. Such was my silent prayer as we pulled away towards our new home.
It deeply saddens me, therefore, to visit the same house twenty years later and see it so derelict. The roof has long since fallen in, and various birds have decided to nest within its carcass. The windows had been smashed by local hooligans, and though I abhor such behaviour, I am thankful that their destruction allows me to see into the skeleton of the place. It is hard not to look at the house through the eyes of my ten-year old self. To see my family gathered around the dining table for Sunday meals; to watch my brother and myself enjoying anime before we knew what it was, and to remember all the happy moments that we had there.
I suddenly found myself wiping a tear from my eye as I caught myself smiling.
“I know it doesn’t look like much now” I said, slowly reaching down to touch the head of the small figure standing beside me. “But it will be the best home you could ever imagine.”
“Really?,” a little voice piped up. It belonged to my daughter and was filled with all the negative enthusiasm a five-year old can muster.
“Yea,” I stated, messing up her blonde hair as revenge for her doubt. “Just wait and see.” I glanced down at the top of her head before picking her up and carrying her back to my Mitsubishi Evolution. Once she was strapped safely inside I closed her door and leaned against it.
“You shall be glorious again,” I promised the house before walking around my Evo and climbing into the driver’s seat. “I assure you of that.” I became aware of questioning glances from my daughter, so smiling once again I started the engine. There was a lot to do to the house to get it back to its former glory, but I knew it would be worth it. I was going to make sure that it was no longer be just another empty building.
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Dranz
