A Natural Emptiness

The closet, once crammed with the styles of youth, holds not so much as a coat hanger. Dents in the carpet are the only evidence that a bed, dresser, and nightstand filled the room. The frilly window dressings and wall art are gone. The truth weighs heavily on my heart; my sense of loss is intense as I gaze through tears at the emptiness. Five years ago, just down the hall, I stood in a room stripped bare of furniture, clothing, and all hints of the masculinity that had thrived there. The gloom set in as I visualized the weight-lifting equipment and the “man cave” corner that was always messy. I reminisced and pondered where the time went. My sentiments may resonate with others who revisit vacant spaces—the fathers and mothers now categorized as empty-nesters, who must accept the reality that vacant rooms are part of the natural scheme of things; they are survivable.