The Quiet

There is an almost eerie silence that comes over a house after company leaves for the last time. The silence that falls seems out of the ordinary. The previously boisterous voices are now silent, and all that can be heard is the swoosh of the water in the washing machine and the gentle blow of the air conditioner as the curtains gently sway in its breeze.

The kitchen is in disarray with dirty dishes and food, reminiscent of the fun that has just been had. It will be a few hours before it is attended to, and even then, it will be with a slightly heavy heart, for once the mess is gone, so is the day. It fades into a memory, never to be lived again.

The dogs need bathing. The lawn needs mowing. The laundry needs washing. The floors need vacuuming. But it can all wait. It is time to sit back and relax for a moment. Time to relive the memories and the fun times that were just had, to savor them like a fine wine.

It isn't time for things to return to normal day-to-day life. No yet. That can wait a few more hours. For once it resumes, it will be a long time before it is up-heaved with good company and delightful times again. It could be months.

It is always sad when company leaves, yet there is a sigh of relief that is breathed in the moments after the last goodbye has been said. The heart won't be heavy for long because the brain is ever on the lookout for the next exciting event. Life is all about living in the moment and looking forward to making good memories of the moments to come. There is always something to look forward to.

For now, the house will sit in near silence, as the occupants within take a moment to catch their breath before life moves back into its normal routine.

The fun has been had, the money has been spent, and now its time to go home.