The silence after they leave is never silent, is it? it's filled with the echo of everything i should have said. should have asked for. all the empty space i offered up, like a sacrifice. and now i'm supposed to enjoy the quiet, appreciate the solitude, but the quiet is just the sound of my own resentment building, a low hum that vibrates in my teeth. maybe if i turn the tv up loud enough, i won't hear it.