Aftershock #4 [07/08/2022]

We paused in front of the Family Mart convenience store. The sun was just starting to set so the employees lit up the green and blue sign adorning the awning.

This used to be our bus stop.

He remembers better than I do, because this was the bus he’d ridden for years after I’d left. I shook my phone, trying to figure out the direction to my old house, swivelling the device till I was pointed the right direction.

Okay, this way.

He took my hand in his and we crossed the street, up and down the hill and a turn to the left. I recognised this street. The trees still surrounded the pavement on either side, but the branches were thinner than I remembered. The old car was gone and the parking lot sat empty. Rounding the corner to where the house sits on the road that used to never be this narrow. White stucco walls and a big window faced us. The curtains were closed, so we couldn't see inside, but I still pointed out little details to him from what I remembered.

It’s a nice place. Yeah, it was.

I leaned over, wrapping my arms around him and he looked down with a soft smile.

I’m glad you came back.

Me too.

written by illustration by

illustration by Sharada Mujumdar

words by Gillian Chapman