"Hey you!" I said out loud as I twirled looking around.
Everything looked so familiar yet different.
All the memories flooding back to me like it was yesterday.
"How have you been?" I asked, as if it were a human.
I'm sorry no one has visited in so long- I know you've been waiting patiently,
We used to be best friends, I think.
I fell headfirst in your front yard so often, you made a flower bed just for me.
I don't think I could have stopped myself from falling, even if I tried.
So many times, I knocked on your door hoping this one was the key.
I waited outside everyday hoping you'd finally let me in.
I know the whole perimeter of this house as if I've lived here forever.
I walk around the house, my legs moving as if it's a dance I've rehearsed hundreds of times,
I smile remembering how it felt the first time,
I begged you to open up, thinking this was it,
But you didn't budge.
The second time,
I think we both knew this wasn't it for sure.
So, you made me a hammock in the back yard where I lay, happy to just be there.
It went on for years.
I came. You never opened your door, but even then, I always ended up staying on that hammock you made me.
We came to an understanding, you and me,
I trusted you and I knew for sure you'd open up only when it was real, only when it was meant to be forever.
But then he came.
Your yard had so many forget- me- nots and pretty butterflies.
The old fountain? Even that had water!
It looked so beautiful I cried when I fell- went around the house again like I did every time, not realizing the door was finally open, and the hammock was gone.
When I finally found it, I was so shocked I stood still just staring- cautiously walked in.
Everything inside was so perfect it took my breath away.
Lover playing softly.
The fridge had every last ingredient for his favorite dish, so I cooked- in the most beautiful kitchen- your kitchen.
Then you gave me the perfect plate with little hearts on it to serve him.
He looked at me with so much love that the closet in your bedroom had my dream wedding dress hanging.
I always went there and just tried it on every time he said "I love you."
But then it came- the day he broke us.
You were so scared, you closed all the doors and refused to let me in.
The flowers were gone; your walls were stripped of its beauty.
You looked so small, so haunted.
I cried, mourning you and him.
I was sure I had lost you forever, that I'd never fall again, I'd have to leave and never come back.
And you know what, it was true- true until he came along.
This time there were no flower beds, no falling.
He held my hand and brought me down through the stairs.
When we reached the front yard, he touched my face so tenderly, put a piece of my hair behind my ear and said carefully yet so surely:
"This is your key, I'll leave it to you, open the door when you're ready.
Whenever that time comes, you'll find me waiting inside with your favorite ice cream and your favorite song playing.
And your library with every single book you'd ever dream of.
I'll make sure everything inside is perfect for us."
And he left with such a bright smile, like a streak of sunshine.
So, I looked over to you and said "Hey you!"
Oct 30, 2025
Oct 30, 2025 at 9:48 AM UTC
"Hey you!" I said out loud as I twirled looking around.
Everything looked so familiar yet different.
All the memories flooding back to me like it was yesterday.
"How have you been?" I asked, as if it were a human.
I'm sorry no one has visited in so long- I know you've been waiting patiently,
We used to be best friends, I think.
I fell headfirst in your front yard so often, you made a flower bed just for me.
I don't think I could have stopped myself from falling, even if I tried.
So many times, I knocked on your door hoping this one was the key.
I waited outside everyday hoping you'd finally let me in.
I know the whole perimeter of this house as if I've lived here forever.
I walk around the house, my legs moving as if it's a dance I've rehearsed hundreds of times,
I smile remembering how it felt the first time,
I begged you to open up, thinking this was it,
But you didn't budge.
The second time,
I think we both knew this wasn't it for sure.
So, you made me a hammock in the back yard where I lay, happy to just be there.
It went on for years.
I came. You never opened your door, but even then, I always ended up staying on that hammock you made me.
We came to an understanding, you and me,
I trusted you and I knew for sure you'd open up only when it was real, only when it was meant to be forever.
But then he came.
Your yard had so many forget- me- nots and pretty butterflies.
The old fountain? Even that had water!
It looked so beautiful I cried when I fell- went around the house again like I did every time, not realizing the door was finally open, and the hammock was gone.
When I finally found it, I was so shocked I stood still just staring- cautiously walked in.
Everything inside was so perfect it took my breath away.
Lover playing softly.
The fridge had every last ingredient for his favorite dish, so I cooked- in the most beautiful kitchen- your kitchen.
Then you gave me the perfect plate with little hearts on it to serve him.
He looked at me with so much love that the closet in your bedroom had my dream wedding dress hanging.
I always went there and just tried it on every time he said "I love you."
But then it came- the day he broke us.
You were so scared, you closed all the doors and refused to let me in.
The flowers were gone; your walls were stripped of its beauty.
You looked so small, so haunted.
I cried, mourning you and him.
I was sure I had lost you forever, that I'd never fall again, I'd have to leave and never come back.
And you know what, it was true- true until he came along.
This time there were no flower beds, no falling.
He held my hand and brought me down through the stairs.
When we reached the front yard, he touched my face so tenderly, put a piece of my hair behind my ear and said carefully yet so surely:
"This is your key, I'll leave it to you, open the door when you're ready.
Whenever that time comes, you'll find me waiting inside with your favorite ice cream and your favorite song playing.
And your library with every single book you'd ever dream of.
I'll make sure everything inside is perfect for us."
And he left with such a bright smile, like a streak of sunshine.
So, I looked over to you and said "Hey you!"
Found this beautiful prompt and thought I should give it a try.
Prompt — Love: A place abandoned by time