they had known married life
for many years
had grown old together
grown used to each other
grown apart
they hardly needed to talk
anymore
so they rarely did
he would complain that
she always had plenty
to say
when the game was on
just
to his mind
never anything important
she loved knitting,
working in her garden,
cooking, and
taking care of her house plants,
that he felt crowded the kitchen
he hated those damn plants
his devotions were
scotch and soda,
Tony Bennett on vinyl,
and baseball on tv
then one day
she was gone
after the funeral
his grown daughters
carried away most of her things
he figured she would have
wanted it that way
now
he sits alone at night
he no longer drinks
she always hated his scotch
he still watches baseball
but he cannot concentrate
on it anymore
he tries to remember
all those silly things
she talked about
he sleeps on her side of the bed now
walks the house in her robe
watches all her favorite shows,
shows he could never stand
before
most importantly
though
he waters
those damn plants
Matthew Longerbeam is a native of Maryland. He was a victim of violent crime in the 1990s and has spent most of his adult life in recovery. Matthew is currently working on a degree in Human Services at HCC and lives in Williamsport, Md with his wife Tabby and his cat Hobo.