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Dying Embers
young fellow – who I assumed to be her husband – playing around.
It was only then that I took the time to look at them. One photo was
of them swimming, another of –
‘His name was Mac.’
I had turned around quickly to see Arabella awake, staring at me,
smiling as I looked at the photos.
‘It’s okay, you can keep looking at them, I just thought I’d tell you.’
And with that, she fell asleep.
The next photo was of her and Mac on a bike, Arabella in the
basket and Mac on the seat. They were both laughing, looking so
happy. One photo caught my eye.
Arabella and a girl who looks like her, the only difference being
that the grey is a lighter shade to represent her hair in the black and
white photo. Their arms were around each other and they were both
laughing. Trees surrounded them and they both had piggy tails with
matching ribbons. Their dresses seem to be from the late 30s. I
could just point out a peep of a picnic mat behind them and a large,
gorgeous lake. I turned the frame over and there was a sticky note on
the back.
Luci and I at Hemsworth Lake, 20th September, 1938. We had a picnic with
Mac and James (Luci’s husband ). The food was varied – Luci made chocolate
cakes, lamingtons and shortbread, I made baguettes, cheese and bacon rolls and
Vegemite scrolls. The boys were in charge of drinks.
I had set the photo frame back down, the whole scene unfolding
before me in my imagination. They were all so perfect before the
war. But thenMac, and I assume James too, had to go. I looked at the
next photo, which I thought was her family. I turned the frame over
to see if it had anything written on it.
Nothing.
Two years later…
The night she died, she told me seven words that have haunted
me to this day. I remember it so clearly.
‘Oh, Clara,’ she had said weakly.
‘Shh, shh, don’t speak, the ambulance is on its way,’ I told her.
‘I want to die here, darling, so there’s no point. I felt a gut
wrenching pain settle itself in the pit of my stomach.
‘Please don’t leave me,’ I said, barely able to speak. Tears drizzled
down my face.
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