Odell Lake by: Javon Alexander-Bradford, Charcoal, 2018
I added her to the list today
But I‘m not sure why she left
Family friend
Unrelated Aunt
Unofficial godmother
I thought.
I didn‘t see her leave
I only saw the empty space
The empty couch at birthday parties
The unsung notes at Christmas caroling
‘Laugh like music’ is so clichéd
She really had one. In retrospect.
She stayed up late with Mom
Talking books, movies, work
I didn‘t see her leave
I only saw the empty space
I overheard Mom talking
Said she‘d seen this all before.
Said she‘d back off for now
Stop making unreturned calls.
So I added her to the list today
But I‘m not sure why she left.
Of course
I‘m not sure why any of them did.