“As the Earth caves in”

by Maksymilian Sidorowicz

As a child, I would pass by this little house on my way back from school every single day,

I remember how perfectly shaped the frames of every window were

How the curtains remained opened a tad on the right side of the sill

Like there was someone or something behind it at all times,

Keeping guard

Watching over its temple

It’s adorably small and square temple

Making sure its beauty was upheld

The house had not a stain nor scratch around it

Not a dent nor bang

Just a perfect coat of white paint that was the suns favorite mirror,

I passed by this house for the last time 10 years ago

Never really thinking about it much because I never saw it,

I almost forgot it ever existed

I almost forgot I loved admiring it

And today when I took an old path to an old friend’s house,

There it was

All by itself

Gutted

Rotted

Tore down limb from limb

And I had no idea what was happening the entire time I was gone,

Learning after I felt the brittle wood that

Beauty will remain as long as you allow it to

I understood what had happened

Then I finally started paying attention.