The Empty Chair

Every family has something they dont talk about. In ours its the chair

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It looks ordnary just old wood with scratches on the side but no one ever sits on it. When guests come we move it away or pretend its not there. And when i asked about it while growing up the answer was always silence

For a long time i didnt understand. Why keep an empty chair at the table Why clean it polish it treat it like someone still owns it

But i noticed little things. During dinner eyes would often drift towards that chair. Sometimes i caught someone smiling soft at it and sometimes i saw tears. It felt strange almost like that empty space wasnt empty at all

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One night when everyone was asleep i couldnt resist anymore. I walked to the dining room and there it was in the corner waiting like it always did. I slowly pulled it out and sat down

The moment i did my chest grew heavy. The air around me felt different colder like someone else was there. My heart started racing. I dont know if it was my imagination or something real but i didnt stay long

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The next morning i asked my grandmother again. For the first time she didnt stay quiet. She looked at me for a while and then said softly, “That chair belonged to someone we loved. They never came back”

She said nothing else but i finally understood

Now everytime i see that chair i dont see just wood. I see the laughter it once held the storys the memories and the love that never fades. That chair may be empty but in our hearts it will never be

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Do you also have an empty chair in your life Someone whose presence you still feel even if their seat is no longer filled