Gerald & Aileen

Melissa Mahadeo

Gerald ran through the suburbs  

at dusk 

searching for his wife Aileen  

he returned home from the office  

and it seemed  

no one had been in the house 

all day  

the laundry hadn’t been hanged  

the dish drainer unclean  

no supper on the table  

where was Aileen  

Gerald left his briefcase by the front door and  

dashed onto Sunset Lane  

banged on every gate, screen, or fence  

he panicked  

she wasn’t at the Johnsons, Smiths, or Greens  

everyone said the same thing,  

“sorry, Gerald. no sign of Aileen.”  

Gerald had been searching for hours  

and decided he should phone the police  

as soon as he returned home  

the house phone started to ring  

startled  

Gerald answered and grasped the edge of  

the kitchen sink  

“dad, where have you been?  

we have to talk about  

mom’s funeral arrangements.” 

Melissa Mahadeo ('22) is an English major who eats, sleeps, and breathes poetry. As her primary creative outlet, she often writes about romance, mentalities, and moments of stillness. When she's not writing, she enjoys singing, making art, and watching old films. Following graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in publishing and continue to create.

Kai Harrington is a dual enrollment student at Cedar Crest. They have been creating art since they were nine years old and have a great interest in game arts. They love to create and inspire, and enjoyed participating in this year’s exchange.