The Empty Chair

Perfect timing like always at 4 o'clock,

The table set, meal prepared,

everything where it should be.

Wait, something is missing...

The chair at the end of the table sits empty.

Grandma stands from her chair and calls out his name to come eat,

But there is no response.

My heart freezes.

Has she forgotten?

She yells out a second time a bit louder.

No response.

Should I tell her?

Before she yells out a third time, she becomes very quiet,

and slowly sits back down in her chair.

I hear her faintly say,

"I forgot he was gone."

How I wish I could look across the table to see him fill the emptiness of that lonely chair.

How I wish he were here to fill the emptiness in my heart, in hers, 

but that day we ate our meal in silence,

and the chair at the end of the table sat empty.