Snowfall Mourning

It was snowing; a rarity too be sure this far south, even in winter time. He went outside to have a smoke, and to watch the snow fall. It drifted down slowly in big and small clumps of beautiful white dreams. Some landed covering the balcony in a blanket. Other flakes fell closer to the door and onto the railing of the balcony. Those that landed on the latter, melted and returned to the water state they had began.

One clump caught his gaze. It was almost heart shaped.

He watched it as it drifted lazily downward. And as it fell, his breath held as he prayed it would land with its brethren on the white covered balcony. But it landed, instead on the railing. It retained its shape for a moment, broke in half and melted. As it dripped off the black metal, a tear formed in his eye, for he had watched it die.

He was reminded of his ex-wife. How his own heart had landed, only to break apart years later when she asked for the divorce. And now, liked the ill-fated clump of frozen water, it had melted and died.

Stubbing out his cigarette with the toe of his shoe, he returned inside. For what once he saw as beautiful, had turned to mourning.