Kyle’s Heart
On top of the bookcase sat an old, unassuming box. The box gave no hint as to the wonder within.
In the box is where Kyle kept his heart.
His heart was kind. His heart was full. His heart was broken. He feared it was irrevocably broken so he put it in the box to keep it from being broken again.
Kyle had grown and gotten his education. He had worked hard to establish himself. Finally, at thirty-two, he had met Emily at a charity auction, and he had been swept away. Emily was everything he found attractive. She was sweet and giving and cute.
The two struck up a conversation, bonding immediately over a shared cause. Their relationship grew over time. Two years later they wed in a quaint, little chapel, and asked that, in lieu of gifts, people donate to the causes they supported. It was a day out of a dream. He presented her with the box, entrusting her to look after it.
After the wedding, the couple took up residence in the house Kyle had bought with their future family in mind. For years the couple lived happily, growing closer and loving each other more.
One day Kyle came home from work to find Emily beaming. She met him at the door and could barely contain her excitement.
“I’m pregnant!” she confided.
The couple was excited and set about filling their nest with all the things their new one could possibly require. Twice more they would excitedly fill their home and their love grew each time.
The little ones grew from babies to toddlers to teens to adults. Kyle’s heart swelled. It had long since healed. Emily had loved it and nurtured it. The children had helped to fill it to the brim with love. Kyle was happy.
The youngest of the children went off to college, and she emptied the home of her belongings. Emily thought the house became sad. Kyle comforted himself with memories of Emily and the children, and the love he had been given.
As the years went on, Emily grew lonelier as Kyle continued blissfully living with his memories. The day finally came when Emily could take living in the house no longer.
Once again, Emily met Kyle at the door. This time, she held the box.
Emily handed the box to Kyle, picked up her suitcase, and walked out the door. Through his tears and aching loss, he opened the box and looked inside. The box held shards of what was once his heart. Kyle emptied the pieces into the trash and went about his life.
He no longer loved and never again had a heart to entrust to anyone.