The Empty Chair

Date: 06/08/2026
All Rights Reserved by the Author

Every evening, an elderly woman placed two cups of tea on her small table.
One she drank.
The other remained untouched.
A neighbour finally asked why.
She smiled gently.
“My husband has been gone for years. But gratitude has a long memory.”
The neighbour never forgot those words.
Love is not measured only by presence.
Sometimes it is measured by remembrance, quiet rituals, and the kindness that continues long after someone has left.
The heart has a remarkable way of keeping beautiful moments alive.
And perhaps that is why true affection never really disappears.

Rajat Chandra Sarmah
Guwahati, Assam, India