The empty space

Aberfan
The empty space

I always thought I had a full heart.
Filled with life experience.
Some sad. Mostly happy
And a huge sense of fulfilment.

But today, I realised, it is not quite full.
Today, I realised there is still a tiny space that will never be filled.
As I watch the carnage unfold.
I know my heart will break.

It grew from nothing.
An ache.
An anger.
A passion to know more.

As I watched the story break
I saw and felt the injustice of it all.
I saw it gaining strength.
Wiping out everything in its path.

Destroying lives.
Children, as well as adults.
And I realised it could happen today.
A slow burn.

Aberfan.
A valley of tears.
Of sorrow.
Of pain.
Of death.

For now the empty space in my heart.
It seems fitting.
The empty space where once sat an eager child waiting to start class.
The empty space for the new horror to unfold.

It will happen.
I promise you
It will happen
And when it does…