Where She Went Next

A short story with central themes of grief and the unknown.

She grabbed the dog lead from the coat hook and smiled as Rufus, Darcy and Bella all weaved, barked and busied themselves at her legs, eager to get walking. Even after 6 months, she still found that her entire situation induced complete confusion. Confusing that dogs such as these would need walking at all, confusion that she should find herself here most regularly, confusion that this is where she’s ended up after all that had happened. The first few days in this place were the hardest. Utter panic. The screaming. The shouting. The crying. All in vain. However, after two weeks or so and the arrival of the dogs, she began to accept this strange norm.

Leads all connected, she opened the front door and braced for the cold night air. Taking a deep breath, she moved briskly downhill towards the sea front, the dogs walking her rather than the other way round. A light mist had rolled in off the sea and the wind blew gently against her riding jacket. Silence filled the sleeping streets.

Crossing the large grass lawn just before the promenade, she recognised a familiar silhouette perched on a bench.
“Hi Mum,” she said, “back again tonight then?”

Without turning round, an elderly, rotund woman replied “Yes, it would seem so dear, although your father hasn’t joined me today”.

“Well, perhaps he’ll be back tomorrow. Fancy joining me? I’m just with the dogs.” She said, trying to sound chipper. Her mother rose from the bench and the pair began walking together in silence.

Finally, down at the promenade, the daughter decided to let the dogs loose. Needing no encouragement, the trio shot off into the darkness. On and on the pair walked, until the daughter looked up at the path ahead and stopped in her tracks. At this, her mother did the same, and immediately understood why.

Towards them, out of the mist, strode three men, one in his late 50s the other two in their late 20s, all wrapped up and leaning into the now blowing gale.

“Say nothing, Kate. We both know it won’t do any good,” said her mother.

Ignoring this, Kate raised her voice, trying to battle the wind, “Nige! Boys!” The men did not register this on any level and walked on. Walking backwards now to keep up, exasperated, she shouted “I’m sorry! Boys, I’m sorry!” Still, to no avail.

Her mother placed an arm round Kate’s shoulder and leaned in close, “Come on, dear, you know that doesn’t work, let’s keep going.

Kate’s failure to be heard only brought back memories from 6 months before. She’d stood in disbelief at the scene that lay before her. Her sons dressed in sharp, dark suits had taken turns at the lectern each saying the most wonderful things about her. They’d been so strong. So brave. Her shouting and crying hadn’t worked then either.

She thought too, of Nige, and how he’d been an anchor for the boys, just as he had been for her all those years. Kate knew that Nige thought she would disapprove of his new partner, Dawn. She didn’t. She only wished she was there and that he was happy.

Coming out of her daydream, she turned to her mother only to find she’s vanished. Unfazed, Kate wondered where she herself would vanish to next. Back to the family farm? The hockey club? Or some other special place from her time in the Land of the Living.