silence is also a sound

the awkward silences between strangers have tiny little high-pitched blades, poking into ears, grating the nerves of the teeth, stuttering and shrill. 

the pregnant silence of expectation is a balloon filling with water, tensing to an ache before bursting forth with the relief of result. 

the comfortable silence of a lover or friend hums a low, warm questionless contentment.   scale and pitch may vary greatly, but it awaits only a touch to vibrate into melody.

the silence of exhaustion after a mighty effort has a satisfying, subsonic drumbeat, bearing with it a thrill of blood and life.  

and the ice-cave echoing silence of a longing absence howls relentlessly and invasively, rendering its helpless mark unable to plug her ears.