We had worked in silence to gather up our pieces, trying in vain to separate the knick-knacks of our twenty years of failure into separate piles.
The worthless ledger of our failed business, books on childcare (never read), cookbooks, photo albums, everything sorted and ready for recycling.
What used to be treasured for unity had been reduced from memories to debris.
We stirred the muck on the living room floor where we first made love as the world grew darker and darker.
“It’s time for me to leave,” you said as his Tesla crushed the gravel outside. “I will just bring my clothes”.
After you left I sat on the porch watching the sky shifting from dusk into night and dawn again and as an early moon is just a piece of change in the softening sky I finally left for the unknown alone.
Edward Hopper
Today Merill hosts dVerse Prosery where we are to include:
“An early moon is just a piece of change
in the softening sky. “
by James Masao Mitsui, “Spring Poem for the Sake of Breathing, Written After a Walk to Foster Island”
June 5, 2023
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I love Hopper’s art and I love what it inspired you to write for today’s Prosery prompt, Björn. ‘The worthless ledger’ of life is an excellent metaphor for divorce, as is the thought of a world growing darker. The image of the narrator sitting on the porch alone is heart-breaking. One little thing, ‘knick knacks’ are usually plural.
Thank you Kim, I will correct that one.
Such a sad tale, and probably all too common. I loved the parenthetical “(never read).”
I was thinking of a Hopper image for my story in its first draft, so I’m extra pleased you used one.
Hopper is the first I thought of when I had written my story… it was just about finding the right one.
You found a good one!
A heart-wrenching story, so pointed and poignant.
“What used to be treasured for unity had been reduced from memories to debris” describes so well the divergence of the once-lovers.
PS Love (hate) his Tesla in the driveway..
The real reason for having a Tesla was to have something where there wouldn’t be a sound of an engine just the gravel.
Yes, spookily there and not there; well heard!
I really like how you have turned all the things we tend to value so much, memories, photos, and the unread childcare books (poignant) into the muck on the floor, just fit for the dustbin.
Nice one Björn. Happy Monday.
Much💚love
“books on childcare (never read)” – I can relate 😉
some hard truths! nice job , Björn!
i am going to have to come back to this i enjoyed it that much
I really like this. Well done.
Pat
The emotions this piece inspires are intense then resolved with acceptance in the final line. Loved it!
I like ‘everything being sorted and ready for recycling’.
Intense. You give this line a lonesome purpose that I can relate to. Wonderful.
I found this sad. the realization of what was once treasures now seems so meaningless. I think that is often the case. What to do with all the residual? I can hear the sound of the gravel.
Nicely done!
What used to be treasured for unity had been reduced from memories to debris… that is a haunting line… as is going off into the unknown..alone.
😢
This is incredibly poignant. You’ve chosen word exactly right to push this to the broken, dark, sad feeling it invokes. And great use of the prompt line.
I finally left for the
unknown alone
We may be expected to take some decisions forced by circumstances without the privilege of choices. Great closing.
Hank
What a poignant story of hard decisions. I like how the quote added to the emotional impact of your words.
Heart wrenching piece Björn ❤️
She had her clothes but she didn’t leave with him. I’m thinking this is a lament over things that never panned out, even the dirty floor reminder was scrubbed clean.
..
Ahh, the sorrow of splitting the sheets. Evokes all the emotions of a failed marriage. Even in-laws are left trying to figure out what to and what nor to keep of the physical memories.