Only Shades of Grey

I walked calmly out the door, I flashed a disappointed look toward the slouched figure sitting on the couch. That day the pink blossoms that burst from the rhododendron were no comfort. Countless summer days spent hitting grand slams from the front yard were no encouragement. As I ducked under the overgrown bush and turned left like I had done so many times before my eyes swelled with tears. The orange-red ladder stared at my blank face. I took several more steps headed in no particular direction. I knelt down in the warm grass and peeked through the fence. It was a hot summer day, but the fence was cold. I was only able to watch as my friends ate, sang, laughed and pretended I wasn’t there. I wept uncontrollably.