AFTER 19. Make a wish

AFTER

19. MAKE A WISH

Day after she died.

House filled with bustle

Family, friends

Organising, preparing food, talking

Making the arrangements.

Merridy arrives

(Merridy the beaming, bubbly

Patient support at hospital

Always so kind to Clara

Cheering her, joking, helping).

Today Merridy has brought assorted fruit

We set it out on a dish

There are blackberries

As we each take one, Merridy pipes brightly

“Make a wish!”

Pop blackberry into my mouth

Flavour explodes there

I scan… what to wish?

Freeze, berry suddenly dead in my mouth?

Heart aches all over again

Only one thing to wish for

Only one

Oh Clara!

I wish you were here, now

With this jolly crew,

Alive and well.

What else could I wish?

Merridy still smiling expectantly at me

“I don’t know what to wish for”

I mumble and turn away.

3 September 2009