I creaked in the wind as if my floor boards were not strong enough to hold me up any longer. The sun set behind me, and I could see the golden hue of the clouds changing colors as the sun fell from the sky. Vines crawled up my brick and spiders hid in the corners of my ceiling. Flowers wilted and weeds sprouted in my front yard as the grass stretched its long thin back towards the clouds.    

I could still feel tiny children’s feet patter around inside and through each room, but I could also still hear their parents’ cruel words to each other and taste the sour tears which fell much too often onto my wooded floor.

Now I sat alone. I was empty. I was useless.

A mini-van pulls into my driveway, and a man steps out regarding my once beautiful structure while a woman stays in the passenger seat with her eyes closed and resting. He steps forward, strides to my front door, and he opens it. I can feel the dust rising off of my moldy flooring as the breeze stirs inside me.
The man strides back to the car leaning into the passenger seat and speaks with the woman. She wakes up and steps out. Her belly is rounded and her ankles look swollen. The woman smiles a gallant smile and gives the man a hug. They stand together for a moment gazing at my formerly striking appearance, their eyes youthful and hopeful.

I could still hear the blissful laughter, and I could still feel the warmth of the love that used to abound inside of me.

Clearing the sky, the clouds faded away, and a gentle evening breeze swept through me. Another day would pass when tomorrow came, but maybe I would not always be broken.