there is an overwhleming emptyness after my parents leave. it is deep and painful, and i know it well. these things we carry are mysterious and sacred. they cannot be explained away, though sometimes we want to cover them with "nicitudes" and bible verses. ultimately, a "covering" simply won't do, although we cannot live in the %100 of emptyness either. so today my empty feeling sits on a shelf above my heart, waiting, resting, knowing that it can sit there for as long as it needs to. and i step on.