There was a hush around the room
as all eyes placed themselves cautiously
towards the window.

The white vehicle slowed before the mailbox
without a sound'�
or if there was one in existence,
its presence was ignored, unnoticed'�
perhaps stuck on the other side of the barrier,
and unable to break through the thick anticipation.

There was the beating of hearts'�
some were slow, like the rushing of frothy waves
beneath the moonlit sky, the thumping cautious and waiting.
Others were rapid'�
like the frantic wringing of his mother's hands
as her hard exterior begins to falter.

An arm emerged from the darkness, the skin warmed in the
bright sunlight,
however, it was only the gloom that the group saw,
nothing else but obscurity stealthily concealing
the cruelly beckoning Death.

Starched white, the thick envelopes were plentiful, but
Overall, couldn't hide the thin, off-white postcard
from their searching gazes.

The thought was too much,
enough to turn even the institutionalized madmen of the world sane again.
It wrecks havoc on the grief-stricken souls,
Suffocating them in the dense flood of suspense.

Like a bolt of lightning,
a glare too quick to comprehend,
she darted out of the door and down the driveway,
grabbing the letters in midair.

Her fingers shook as the startled man stared,
gingerly searching the stash.
The postcard shocked her,
electric bolts running rampant,
gallivanting across her brain and nervous system.

She saw the words, and her lips parted, quivering,
the tears, in their sudden arrival,
blurring her vision'�

Hey Mom, Dad'�I miss you all so much. It's getting harder everyday, but I promise to come back, I promise to make it through'� and as for you, yes you know who I'm talking about'�It's all okay'�I'M okay'�I'm survivin', Sis'�

She dropped'�
and the ground caught her painfully.
But, she felt only bliss'�
Only happiness as the shadows enclosed on her.
She saw him, her brother'�
His face in her mind, as clear as ever,
his smile a beam of hope,
her faith renewed and strong.

The rest of the family reached her,
Dread flooding their thoughts at the
Sight of the fall.
Their tears escaped confinement in a feverish race,
echoing the rapid steps of their captors' own feet in speed.

And the atmosphere changed,
transformed completely as they read the card,
They suddenly saw the sun,
felt the wind as it blew, smelling of
oncoming springs showers'�

They bent down, trying to revive her,
all the while, staring in wonder at her smile'�
The only trace of happiness she'd shown in months'�

Awaking in bed that evening,
her mind was groggy, disoriented.
Her bedroom was a hazy gray, highlighted
by the moonlight filtering into her room.
Gathering strength, she tilted her head to his picture,
still resting on the nightstand,
and saw the postcard.

It all came back'�
The happenings of the day,
and she felt the tears return.
Her fingers grazed over the stamp atop the letter
and she smiled, the tears zigzagging away from their
straight path.

She didn't see her mother standing in the doorway,
tears also down her face.
Her hands now permanent in their motion,
wringing once again to their own steady beat.

Her mother bit her lip, tasting the salty mixture,
and thinking back'�
To memories and precious memoirs of the past,
from then to now'�
What was present now but pain and sorrow? she wondered
and looked at the folded flag atop her daughter's dresser.
She'd yet to notice it, but in this case,
Maybe things should come later than sooner,
maybe time should revolve backwards'�to a better time'�
A time when news so distressing would not be her
responsibility to pass on'�

She looked at her daughter,
her fingers still stroking the postcard'�
A few days too late'�
And she decided'�

She turned around,
away from the sight
but not quick enough to miss seeing her daughter
put the card beneath her pillow.
Not quick enough to miss the sound of her sigh,
laced with shudders as it rattled in her chest,
a sure sign that there will be stronger sob to come'�
the sniffles penetrating the quiet air.

She turned without a sound and
went into the comforting dark of the house..
She'd tell her somehow, but not now'�
Tomorrow'�
Tomorrow'�tomorrow'�tomorrow'�

Her head bent slightly,
and she silently prayed that tomorrow never came.

Want to comment on this Poetry? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Poetry and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...