The Woman in the Window

She sat at the window morning noon and night. She had no other life it seemed, except watching others. Her husband had died, and she lived with one daughter and her family, Those she did not like, she sneered at, but of course, they could not hear. Once in a while she got up from her seat to brew a cup of tea,or have a bite to eat. Aside from that, her time was spent at that window looking at all who walked by.

People she knew, waved at her while others just glanced up to look. Kids laughed and pointed to her shouting, "you crazy old lady". She heard, and never answered, but remained at that window in front of the busy street. One day, I walked past the window going to work. I looked up and she wasn't there. I kept looking, squinting to see if she were sitting behind shadows. I could not see her form or shape. Figuring she was having lunch, I went on my way as I had every day.

I spent the day thinking, "Where could she be?." I went home late that day. It was dark and her window had no light. "Perhaps she went to sleep," I thought as I hurried home.

Two days later, still no sign, of the woman in the window, I decided to check in the store below where she lived. The drugstore was empty, except for two. I walked over and asked, "Do you know the old woman, who lives above"? One woman answered, "Sure I do, she is a sweet woman, we wave every day". She turned to Clara, who just walked in. Hi ", we were talking about the woman upstairs". 'Oh, I know her" Clara said, but , I have not seen her in days". Tears filled Maggie's eyes. "I bet she died". Clara nodded, "she was very sick".

I could hardly bare the thought of her death, knowing I would miss seeing her every day. I walked out of the store, my eyes looked up, still no woman sat. I went home, told the kids. " Remember the story I told you about the woman who sat at the window"? "Well she died and no longer can I wave to her on my way to work" . I went to the phone, called all I knew who waved and spoke to her, to tell them the news. "We should do something, as a tribute to her, a plaque to give her family, write an obit in the papers, so all would know this woman would no longer be at the window waving to them ".