Norine was already sitting in the back seat of Grady’s truck with her two suitcases.
By 5:20, the piano was strapped into the moving truck, and the driver was asking Grady for his address.
Somebody had set the metronome on my mantel while the movers were wrapping the piano. Everybody had forgotten about it.
I picked it up. It was heavier than it looked. I carried it down to the curb, where Grady was standing beside his truck.
“Is this hers?” I asked. “Or her mother’s?”
“Her mother’s,” he said. “Same as the piano.”
I put it in his hands. It was silent now. Its little brass arm was locked in place.
Grady reached into his jacket. He took out my ladybug key.
He’d gotten it back from Keegan sometime that afternoon, apparently.
He set it in my palm and closed my fingers over it with his. And for one second, he was eleven years old again, handing me something he’d broken.
He didn’t say he was sorry.
He got in his truck and followed the movers down my street.
In the back seat, Lainey waved at me out the window from her booster seat. With her whole arm. All the way until they turned the corner.
By 5:40, the house was empty.
The folding chairs were stacked against the wall for the rental company. The yellow balloons were losing air on the porch railing.
In the middle of my carpet, where the piano had stood, there were three round dents from its legs.
Dedra and I carried Leif’s chair back across the room. We set it down by the front window, right where it used to be.
One of its feet landed in a dent. The chair rocked once. Then it settled.
The dents were mostly hidden underneath it.
I sat down. I put on his glasses. The wrong prescription. And I looked out at my street.
“I’m home,” I said.
To nobody in particular.
Dedra squeezed my shoulder and went home to feed her cat.
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
At TheArchivists, Ethan specializes in uncovering compelling stories that reflect a wide range of human experiences. His work is celebrated for its authenticity, creativity, and ability to spark meaningful conversations, earning him recognition among peers and readers alike.
Passionate about the art of storytelling, Ethan enjoys exploring themes of culture, history, and personal growth, aiming to inspire and inform with every piece he creates. Dedicated to making a lasting impact, Ethan continues to push boundaries in the ever-evolving world of digital content.