And then they were gone..........

As it happens the end came quite swiftly. One day we had a house with two happy, noisy teenagers in it the next day it was empty and in a strange way I am grateful for that, the swiftness of it I mean, better than something prolonged.

I wander from room to room, his room, her room, the spare room. as bedrooms go they no longer service their primary purpose, to have people in beds asleep in them.

The floors are bereft of discarded clothing, heavy pulsating beats that pass for music no longer seep into the corridors, the towels that once scattered the house sit dry and folded away in the airing cupboard.

And the TV remote, once fought over and guarded now rests on the arm of my chair, secluded and at liberty.

They live on, nothing tragic has happened, my two teenage children have gone to University, different universities, different towns, same outcome here, the childless couple who waited 9 years for children and were overjoyed (and scared) at the prospect are alone together again a mere 20 years later.

People say it gets better, you will enjoy it, look forward to their visits and their departures, but I don't see it myself. I cant see how you ever get your sense of purpose again, or enjoy the quiet and peace.

Mind you, that large empty tidy bedroom would make an excellent study/rec room, you know to while away the empty hours in a lounger,with wifi and a hobby or two.

Now where did I put that tape measure......