Soft Socks and Grey Carpet

by Annamarie Nocera

The loudest sound I ever heard

Was the silence

As I sat on the floor of
       my room

And                     waited.

 

More than anything, I wanted

to hear
       maternal footsteps
       outside my door: 

Soft socks against the grey carpet

 

But dawn came instead, and she was not wearing socks

I                         waited

For three days
      While darkness slithered through my window pane

I                         waited

. . . Because surely, someone will see.

But instead

             into the black cloud
       I                          dissolved.

I am ashamed to admit that I ever thought soft socks and grey carpet could save me.