The Bicycle

They decided to leave her bedroom just as it was on that day in August. They didn’t say anything openly about it, they just tacitly agreed and left the room alone. Not a thing had been moved or changed. He knew Emily would go in and sit on the bed.  He didn’t know how much time she spent there when he was at work. But sometimes he’d come home and Emily would be up there. He couldn’t bring himself to disturb her, not because he didn’t want to be a bother, but because he couldn’t bear to go up there himself.

The garage was another matter. It was almost spring and he had to move out some of the clutter. He started moving out  old patio furniture and found the bike behind  a tabletop on its side with the legs removed. The little bicycle, pink frame, white seat, white handle grips.

He was angry at himself that he couldn’t remember the last time he heard the bell ring. He remembered her joy when she got it, her birthday, teaching her to ride, seeing her ride without training wheels for the first time. He could hear the bell now and her laughter.

He gently touched the handlebars and felt himself becoming overwhelmed. He left the bicycle there just as he found it.

copyright 2015 Magnus Incognito

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