Moving Day
the pickup truck rumbles away with the last few
moving boxes. the room is a bare island
depleted of vegetation of memories. a freezing
emptiness hefts itself off its hinges and licks
your skin. silence blends with soft sunlight easing
through the curtainless windows. you scan
the room one more time, tears teetering
on the edge of your eyelashes.
in a forgotten corner of a windowsill, you spot
the tiny jar of layered sand with glimmers
of color. it reminds you of the ocean that used to live
in you. its waves fizz into your fingertips and crash
with your thumping heartbeats. you tuck the jar
into your canvas bag emblazoned with “courage”
and make the last farewell, your steps
joining the hum of the road.
Allison Xu is a young writer from Rockville, Maryland. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in Blue Marble Review, Unbroken, Paper Lanterns, The Daphne Review, Bourgeon Magazine, and elsewhere. She is currently serving as a senior editor for Polyphony Lit. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, baking, and playing with her beagle.
Amethyst Review 