The mansion sat back off the road on Highway 92. I had driven through this tiny town
a dozen times before on my way home. I was startled by it because I was sure that I had never seen it before. It was a huge
antibellum with three floors and what looked to be an attic.
I could see the curtains blowing in the breeze even though the house was obviously deserted.
The pain was in horrible disrepair. Without realizing what I was doing I pulled into the long dirt driveway and pulled up
right next to the huge porch.
I got out of the car and stood there with my hands on my hips for the longest time perplexed
by who would abandon such a beautiful house. I climbed the rickety steps and turned the knob. Somehow I knew it wouldnt be
locked. I walked in and the light was different somehow.
The heat inside the house was almost unbearable. It felt like the inside of a furnace.
I walked through the house, feeling fear and then an overwhelming sadness. I took off my hat and climed the stairs up
to the second floor. I went to my left and there was a huge room with long floor to ceiling windows. I went to the window
and noticed that the area around it was clean and the glass in the window was also clear, like someone had cleaned it recently.
I stood there looking out over the land beyond the house and somehow I knew that there had been a great loss in the house.
I became aware of sounds all around me....
