The Quiet Between Us
The hallway clock leans,
ticking in that tired rhythm
we all learned to ignore.
Mom hums in the kitchen,
her tune rising from warm bread
and the scrape of a knife on the counter.
My brother laughs too loud in the next room,
as if silence might reveal
what he will not touch.
The table keeps
old fingerprints beneath new crumbs.
We pass plates like small offerings,
each glance a question no one answers.
Dad’s jacket hangs
on the same hanger from before,
waiting for a voice
that has not come back.
I pour water carefully,
watching the glass rise,
refusing to let it spill.
My hands steady the moment,
the noise,
the quiet,
and the pieces we keep gathering
even when they start to feel heavy
ABOUT PEYTON WOOD
Peyton Wood is a finance student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from Pennsylvania, he is passionate about business, investing, and the intersection of finance with real world decision making. Peyton has gained experience through internships in real estate and insurance, where he has worked on financial analysis, client communication, and market research. Outside of academics, he is interested in music, writing, and storytelling, often exploring how personal experiences shape perspective. His work reflects a balance between analytical thinking and creative expression. Peyton plans to pursue a career in finance while continuing to develop his voice as a writer.