The chirping of birds and the blowing wind seep through the cracks of silence. A shiny coat of snow and ice covers all.

Patches of snow reveal escaping heat from the roof while rays of sunlight pierce the patchy sky.

Outside, objects and trees near the driveway light up and reflect a vehicle’s lights, brought closer to the house. A loud engine can be heard parking in the driveway.

The father has come home from work.

The father leaves his car with a loud thud of the door. He walks across the black top and up to the side door.

The noisy door makes an even louder sound when the father closes it behind him. Almost instantly, a talk show sprouts from the TV.

Steps upon the wooden floor are heard throughout the house, and the refrigerator chugs away in the kitchen. 

Loud voices and music blaring from the living room mesh. Dress shoes hit the wooden floor, and the father’s movements crawl throughout the house.

The opened fridge is closed as the fan of an air fryer starts up.  The father fills his glass with crushed ice.

The smell of freshly fried chicken fills the house. A final loud beep shuts off the air fryer. The father walks to the couch, where he plops down in front of the TV.

The voices that fill the living room remain for a few hours before the creaking of someone walking upstairs can be heard.

The lights turned out, the sounds of silence reemerge.