We are thrilled to share another piece from one of our writers who submitted to the annual WGI Invite to Write Challenge! 

For this year, we asked our talented cohort to create a new piece on this prompt: Write a story where the end is also the beginning.

Next up, we are sharing Miriam Blaustein’s piece entitled, “Front and Back.” Stay tuned, as we will continue sharing the submissions throughout the fall!

Front and Back

My view out the back of my house is that of backyards and rear windows. I love looking out at them, particularly the rear windows. It is where daily life is played out unconsciously as the day begins and as the day ends. It is where life can be witnessed, albeit through the lens of one’s imagination, ideally without judgement. As I sit on my bed looking out onto my backyard, I start to write. To my surprise I am writing about my view out of the front windows. Hence, my title: Front and Back

I spend a lot of time looking out my brownstone’s windows. Watching people walk up and down the street. Some are with dogs, waiting for them to do their business – will they clean up? Some are going to doctors appointments (I live down the block from the hospital). Others are workers: construction, plumbers, contractors, electricians, delivery men and women – coming out of, or going into their double-parked vans, and some are neighbors – coming back from, or going out on, errands. I watch and see. Moving vans arrive and leave. Boxes going out, boxes coming in, as the brownstones get sold, and sadly “renovated.” The trees, lining both sides of the street, stand tall, as they, too, bear witness.

Year after year, the same strong trunks – at times their branches bare, dark brown, reaching out. Buds overnight turn into large fleshy green leaves, standing very still in the heat, waiting for the breezes. With the breezes come the rains and the winds, and voila, the leaves change color! Lighting up the street with their reddish-golden manes, only to toss them off, covering the ground with silky velvet leaflets – like warnings falling from the skies.

Another season came, another year gone by. I remain.

I look out my window.