Moments Frozen

Moments frozen
Lay in a box
Under my bed

Today, after a long time
I took that box out
And nestled it on my lap.

One by one
I see each of them
And pause for a minute

This one is a picture of my family
It was taken when I was born
Everyone seems happy.

My sister, glad to have a new doll.
My mumma, exhausted, but glowing.
My daddy, holding my tiny fingers, in awe.

This one was taken on my sister’s eighth birthday
My daddy is making her cut the cake
While I clutch onto my mom, looking at the sweet delight gleefully.

This one was taken on a random school day
My sister is dressed neatly in her red tunic, while I am crying.
My dad was somewhere, busy.

This one was taken on my thirteenth birthday
My friends cheer for me
While my sister stands beside me

This one is of my parents
Taken on a rainy Sunday
My mom looks at my dad with all her love, while he watches television

This one was clicked when my sister graduated from school
All of us stand proud
My dad had been busy.

This one was clicked when we had gone to the beach
We are splashing water at each other
My dad had gone for a ride.

This one was clicked when I started college
My mom had come to help me settle
I don’t remember why dad was not there.

This is the most recent one.
My mother standing alone, looking at the sunset.
Her eyes seem more alive than ever. My parents had separated a few weeks prior.

Laughter still rings in my ear.
The moments play infront of my eyes.
Memory plays tricks with me, as I go back in time.

Feeling tears on my cheeks,
I close the box again.
Feel the patterns my sister had carved on them when we were younger.

I push the box back
Beneath my bed,
Where it collects dust.

I look at the family photo that hangs on my wall
My sister, her husband, my mother, and I
Stand together arms linked with bright smiles on our faces

I think about how time changes everything
It brings out the villian in all of us.
But things happen for the best, in the end.

I search for my phone, then call my dad
He picks up on the first ring, as always.
“Hey baby girl. Finally remembered your daddy?”

~insight07

Copyright ©Devika Todi. All rights reserved.