The Missing

The Missing

**The Missing**

In the misty mountains, an old couple lived a solitary life, their days filled with the quiet rhythms of nature. Their only son had long since moved abroad, chasing dreams and a life beyond the mountains. The old man and woman would often sit by the fireplace, reminiscing about their son's childhood, and the memories they had shared together.

The old lady, in particular, felt the weight of her son's absence. She would often find herself lost in thought, remembering the day he kicked her belly for the first time on Christmas, as she admired a butterfly flitting about the garden. It was one of the happiest days of her life, and she would often smile thinking about it.

As the years went by, the old lady's longing for her son only grew stronger. She would often sit by the window, gazing out at the mountains, hoping to catch a glimpse of her son's return. To fill the void, she turned her attention to her garden, planting flowers and trees that her son had loved. She brought in birds and pets, hoping to recreate the sense of life and joy that her son had always brought to their home.

As Christmas approached, the old lady's thoughts would turn to her son, and she would start preparing for his visit. She would make apple pies and plum cakes, just like she used to when he was a child. She would work tirelessly in the garden, coaxing blossoms to bloom even in the harsh winters. But year after year, her son would fail to make it home for Christmas.

One year, the old lady fell ill, and her health began to decline. She would lie in bed, expecting her son to arrive any day, but the months turned into years, and she grew weaker. Despite her illness, she would often ask her husband about their son, and whether he had called or written. The old man would try to reassure her, but deep down, he too was worried.

One day, the old lady's time ran out, and she breathed her last. The old man was devastated, and the house was filled with his tears. When their son finally arrived, he was met with the stark reality of his mother's passing. The garden, once full of life and beauty, had become a bushy, unkempt forest. Half of the pets had died or were malnourished, and his father had grown old and frail.

The son attended his mother's funeral, his heart heavy with grief and guilt. As he stood by her grave, he planted a tree in her memory, a symbol of the love and life she had brought to their home. But as he looked at his father, he knew that he couldn't leave him alone in the mountains. With a heavy heart, he made the difficult decision to take his father with him, abandoning the home and garden that his mother had loved so dearly.

As they left the mountains behind, the son couldn't help but wonder what his mother would have thought if she knew that her garden, her sanctuary, would be left to wither away. He looked back at the mountains, and the tree he had planted on his mother's grave, knowing that a part of him would always remain there, tied to the memories of his childhood and the love of his mother.

By : Arupa Sanyal