An aged hand wrote out careful letters on a piece of blank parchment.
I find that as I grow older, my memories are becoming fainter, slowly fading.
The late afternoon sun illuminated the old wooden desk causing shadows to dance across the paper. The soft scratching of the pen on was accompanied by the steady ticking of a distant grandfather clock.
Much like an antique photograph, whose sharp images have gradually diminished into monotone amber.
The hand paused as if in thought then continued shakily.
However…there are some things I will never forget.
The sudden sound of knuckles rapping against a wooden door ceased the writing altogether.
An elderly Miley smiled sadly as she gently laid her pen down. She stood slowly yet gracefully before making her way down to the entrance hall.
Upon nearing the door, faint voices could be heard from the outside on the porch.
"Mommy, how long are you gonna be gone?"
"Robbie, honey, I've told you twice already…"
Miley's smile widened with recognition as she smoothed out her skirt. Then with a final soothing breath, she swung the front door wide open.
"Grandma!" A young blonde boy leapt out of his mother's arms and nearly tackled the elder woman with a hug.
"Robbie!" Miley exclaimed with a surprised laugh as she returned the tight hug, "Oh my, look at how tall you have gotten. Get any taller and you might just knock me to the ground with those hugs of yours!" Miley chuckled as she gazed down at her grandson lovingly. The boy answered with a wide smile, revealing a newly missing front tooth, before scuttling quickly through the front door.
"Dibs on the bunkroom!" He shouted behind him.
Miley signed softly as she shifted her gaze back up to the beaming middle-aged couple waiting on the porch. They both appeared to be in their early forties, signs of aging just beginning to register on their handsome faces. The woman had brilliant blonde wavy hair and bright blue eyes. Her husband stood next to her, with balding chestnut hair and deep brown eyes that resembled melted chocolate.
"John! How good to see you." Miley smiled as she greeted the middle-aged man.
The man nodded, smiling politely, "Always a pleasure Miley."
At that moment the blonde woman stepped forward and engulfed Miley in a tight hug.
"Oh Mom, it's been too long. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too dear, terribly." With those words, sadness and loneliness radiated briefly through the older woman's pale blue eyes.
The younger woman pulled back slightly, still grasping her mother's arms she whispered sincerely, "Thank you so much for doing this. You don't know how much it means to John and I."
Miley's eyes brightened once again as she chuckled lightly, "Oh Violet, you should know that looking over my two grandchildren for the summer is a pleasure not a hassle!"
"You say that now," Violet smirked as she shared a knowing glance with her husband.
"Oh hush. Now then, why don't the two of you come in and have a cup of tea while the children get settled. After all, I haven't seen you all since Christmas!" Miley grinned as she gestured to the open door.
Violet pressed her lips together and gave her husband a nervous glance.
John held his watch up to check the time and began carefully, "Miley we would love to stay, we really would…it's just that-" The old woman's heart fell. It seemed as if she never spent time with her family nowadays. It seemed almost…as if she had been forgotten.
"Ah yes, I see." Miley murmured with a slight frown. Then with a forced smile she pushed the sorrow out of voice," We'll just have tea some other time. I certainly wouldn't want you to be late because of little old me."
Violet and John simultaneously sighed in relief.
"Thanks again Mom." Violet hugged her mother one last time before quickly adding, "You have our phone numbers so don't hesitate to call at any time."
"Certainly." Miley replied with a firm nod.
"And make sure Robbie takes his vitamins every morning."
"I will."
"Don't let them stay up too late-"
"Honey, our flight!" John interrupted nervously. He checked his watch again. "We need to go now."
"Alright alright!" Violet started to the car with John trailing closely behind her, "Bye Mom! Bye kids, be good! Love you!"
The cranking of the engine sounded and Miley waved a final time as the car disappeared completely from the driveway.
Focusing her attention back on the porch Miley smiled at the last member of the family, a girl who had been hidden by her tall parents until now.
The girl was in her awkward early teens, caught between being a child and a woman. She stood shyly with her head down and shoulders hunched. Half of her face was covered by wavy dark brown hair and her ears were crammed with white iPod headphones. The most striking features on the young girl were her eyes, which were the same brilliant blue as her mother's.
"Why hello there, Rose." Miley grinned as she greeted her granddaughter.
"Hi grandma." Rose's reply was curt and her gaze remained fixed on the ground.
"Well then," Miley started slowly, a bit taken back by the lack of response from her granddaughter. "How about we go inside? Do you need help with your bags?"
"No thanks." Rose muttered as she picked up her single suitcase and brushed past her grandmother without another word.
Miley quickly followed the Rose into the house, "How was your school year?" She asked, hoping to get a decent reply from the teenager.
"Okay."
Miley licked her lips patiently as she tried again, "Nothing noteworthy has occurred since Christmas?"
"Not really."
Finally with a small sigh, Miley gently placed her hand on the young girl's shoulder, "Is something the matter, dear? You seem upset about something."
Rose shrugged carelessly, "I'm fine. Can I stay in the upstairs guest room?"
"You can stay wherever you wish." Miley conceded with nod.
Miley watched with concern as Rose lugged her suitcase up the stairs. She hated seeing her granddaughter upset.
Miley released an anxious sigh as she walked over to the kitchen in order to start up dinner. She loved to be in the company of her beloved grandchildren, but seeing them miserable only made her miserable.
Then again, these days Miley always felt miserable. Loneliness constantly hovered over her like a dark cloud. It was such a profound loneliness that her only forms of company were her past memories.
Much of her past had been long forgotten or had faded into the farthest recesses of her mind. However, some things she couldn't seem to forget. They were memories that to this day haunted and festered within her.
Miley shook her head clear as she carefully placed a turkey in the oven.
It was going to be a long summer.