One Day in December

by Josie Silver

But who’s to say that you have to belong to somewhere forever, anyway?

At least I’m alive, everyone keeps telling me, look on the bright side, or some other equally trite shit.

“This place is beautiful, Sar, but it’s your place in the world, not mine.” “Where’s yours?” she says. “Because I’ll tell you what I think. Your place isn’t somewhere. It’s someone. I’m here because it’s where Luke is. You’d have gone to Brussels if Oscar was your place.”

We’re all just there, and it’s so heartwarming and perfect that I don’t want to open my eyes and see all the empty chairs around the table.