The Loneliest Day of the Year

(My fireplace this morning.)

The first Monday in January is always, for me, the loneliest day of the year.

Everyone left without a backward glance,

leaving me alone with the detritus of the holiday.

I'm not sure which one bothers me more, the leaving or the piles of detritus left in their wake.

There's no help for it, but I sure hate being alone again.