Louisa's Auntie Em (which was the family's nickname for her) had died and she had been her only visitor in the nursing home even though she hadn’t recognised or spoken a word to her for many months.
Lou’s family had all gone now she was by herself and sadly paid her last
visit to sort through any belongings that still were there after the funeral.
There was absolutely nothing apart from her clothes and some meaningless
knick-knacks and a couple of books all of which had been hurriedly packed for Lou
to dispose of.
She was about to take the lot to the bin when one the books fell from
the top of the pile and fell face open onto the floor.
As she picked it up she noticed an inscription inside the cover “Best
wishes to Maureen and a happy meeting in Oxford
Only twenty years ago Em had been in England
It's not easy for those left behind. Very poignant in only six sentences.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how a single object can hold so many memories and emotion. I think we miss the conversations with our lost loved ones the most.
ReplyDeleteI have a few things I hold onto as they were Dad's or Mom's. I can still
ReplyDeleteFeel them .
I tend to hold small momentos as well...one of my most cherished items is a handwritten to do list!
ReplyDeletenice engagement, w small corner of the world at a time of life we have ahead of us. very effective tale.
ReplyDeleteLife is like that: connections, common threads, a circle all intertwined. Bittersweet.
ReplyDeleteAnnie at ~McGuffy's Reader~
A very heartfelt story. Great take on the prompt.
ReplyDelete