packing up

She stood in the kitchen. Surrounded by boxes. The counters were empty. The cabinets bare. Her mother's kitchen. Now just a collection of empty spaces. She started packing up the dishes. Each one wrapped in paper. Placed in a box. The sound of the paper crinkling. The sound of the dishes clinking. Her mother sat at the table. Watching. Not helping. Just watching. They didn't talk. They just sat there. The only sound the packing. The kitchen was empty now. The boxes were full. The silence was heavy. She taped up the last box. Labeled it. Put it with the others. Her mother stood up. Walked over to her. Stood beside her.