The Empty Chair (Holiday Audio Story)
The Empty Chair by Ruben White Sarah Martinez stared at the empty chair at her Thanksgiving table, the one where her father had sat every year until their bitter argument last spring. The mahogany seat seemed to mock her, its vacancy echoing the hollow feeling in her chest. Outside, maple leaves painted in autumn's palette danced past her Brooklyn brownstone's windows, like nature's own parade of memories. For fifteen years, she'd hosted Thanksgiving dinner, transforming her modest home into a sanctuary of warmth and spices. But this year, everything felt different. The turkey was still golden, the cranberry sauce still sparkled like rubies, but the heart of her celebration had gone missing – along with half her usual guests, who'd chosen sides after the family split. "Mom, can we eat yet?" her twelve-year-old daughter Maya asked, fidgeting with her napkin. "Aunt Rosa's sweet potato pie is calling my name." Sarah managed a smile, though...