Member-only story
The Hat
Your hat still hangs on its hook by the door
The hat you wore daily
The way I know you by heart
Your routines
Your manners
Are forever engrained in my happy memories
They comfort me
The way a dog’s head warms its’ owner’s lap
The sound of your boots crunching in the snow
The slam of the front door
I’d run to you
And throw myself into your arms
Eager to tell you about my day
You listened patiently
Although I imagine now how tired you must have been after work
You smelled of a mix of shaving cream and man
A smell I can never forget
Because it means ‘love’ and ‘safety’
A smell I swear I can still catch a whiff of sometimes
When I see your hat hanging there
I expect you to walk in at any minute
Even though my brain knows that is impossible
I remember your smile
It didn’t just touch your mouth
