Grey

Grey by Brynne M.

Hey.

Hey.

How do you feel?

What do you think?

I think you’re hurt.

I’m worried.

The world… it feels grey.

It IS grey.

Why is the world grey?

Because she’s gone!

I saw her five months ago and

now I’ll never see her again!

I know how you feel. I do.

No, you don’t!!!

I’m sorry.

I know you are.

Talk to me, please.

Tell me why your world is grey.

An ‘x’.

That’s it.

A single ‘x’ on a single page.

No word, no picture, no special difference

from every other day crossed out in this month.

No sign, saying, “This day was different.

This day every soul should lower their eyes

and take off their hats.”

It was just one ‘x’,

but it was the end of something

that was just too young to stop.

What was her name?

Her name was Michael.

She could walk. She DID walk.

She DID laugh,

she DID smile,

she DID love.

She felt so many things,

had to endure so much pain,

but she still brought forth positivity

that spread to everything

and everyone

around her.

I just can’t believe that even someone who fought so hard,

that so much positivity,

could be gone so suddenly.

You know, shock is a funny thing.

You can hear something that you know is true,

but only a part of you really believes it,

really takes it in.

You have to know what happens next to really accept it.

So when I heard,

I was devastated.

But when I looked up

and realized

that my Auntie Michael was watching over me,

and I’d never get to ask her

every single question I’ve wanted to

and I’d never get to see

her shoulder-length blonde hair

and I’d never get to watch

her adopt that little boy with her husband

that was when the shock truly hit me

and caused the water stains on my desk.

So that’s why the color is gone.

I loved my aunt.

I never got to say it.

But I hope she knew it.

And though every calendar

might just have an ‘x’ crossing out Monday, March 12th,

I know what happened that day,

and my world is grey because of it.

I know you feel hurt.

I know your world of color is gone.

But she is watching over you now.

And she didn’t love you.

She does love you.

And that is what will make the color come back.