Hi! Happy new Year! I got the inspiration for this story off of a website full of story ideas there is hundreds of these on the web that really help when your trying to think up a plot. Hope you like it!
In Memory Of
L.M Owens
Kathleen sat
on the hard wooden pew. She wore a plain black dress and a veil. Her eyes were
wet with tears. As she listened to the priest claiming how good a man he had
been, she stared at a stained glass window depicting God showing mercy and forgiveness.
And Kathleen wondered for the first time in her life if it was worth it. “But God
didn’t show mercy for my husband. God’s love didn’t stop him crashing his car.
So why should all my praying and devotion to God save me? All my life I have
prayed for the love of God and thanked him for what I have. And what good has
it done? Maybe it’s time I lived my own life.” Their children sat around her,
consoling each other. Kathleen would have liked them to visit her more often
but they were all adults now with families of their own. Almost the whole
village had arrived to commemorate him. Mr. Robson had been a good man, always
friendly, a generous father-a loving husband. She swallowed the lump in her
throat, knowing deep down she could never love anyone else.
“Mum, are
you sure about this?” It was a month after Mr Robson’s funeral and Kathleen
Robson was packing a suitcase while her eldest child Maria stood over her. “You
could go on a nice camping trip instead but you can’t climb a mountain! Especially
alone.” Maria pleaded with her. Kathleen took a deep breath, staring at her
daughter. “Life’s too short Maria, look at your father. Who’s telling when
it’ll be my time. I want to enjoy it as much as possible. It was always your
fathers wish that we could climb Ben Nevis together. I’m not letting anything
stop me.” She felt that this final act in memory of her husband would soothe her
far more than the priest’s words. She was determined to carry out his final
wishes. “But-” Maria began. “There’s a caravan site nearby, I can stay there” Kathleen
interrupted. “I wouldn’t worry. I’ll only be away for the weekend; I’ll be back
before you know it.” she assured her. Kathleen picked up her rucksack, waved goodbye
and marched out of the house. She had waited all winter for this moment and as
soon the first burst of spring sun shone through the murky grey clouds, she was
off!
It was time.
Ben Nevis loomed in front of her, its peak blanketed with impenetrable grey
mist. “Easy” she said, though her stomach fluttered with anxiety. Heaving her
rucksack off her back she detached her walking poles. “And these are for… oh
well I’m sure I’m fit enough to manage without them.” And she threw them into
the boot of her car before setting off. Without her husband, Kathleen was an
inexperienced climber, not that she would admit it.
Looking up
onto the mountain she saw four small specs descending the path. Hikers.
Scanning the area, she discovered an obvious trail leading to the peak. So that
was where to start. She began to climb the slope. After fifteen minutes of
walking, Kathleen met the hikers she had seen in the distance. “You sure you
want to go up today?” One of them said. “The bad weathers coming in fast.” “I’m
sure I’ll be fine I’ll watch out.” she said confidently. They continued on
their way. Despite waiting for spring to arrive, her fingers were soon numb
with cold and her breath condensed in the crisp air. After an hour of nonstop walking,
Kathleen’s feet felt like lead. She sat down on a rock and massaged her
blistering toes.
Before she
knew what had happened, grey fog suddenly impeded her vision, rain hammered
down like bullets and the rocks became slippery and wet. Trying with all her
might she attempted to gaze through the fog. Thinking it would be best to
continue, she got to her feet. But Kathleen couldn’t see a thing and without
realising, she strayed right off the path. All around her the dense air
reminded her of her childhood days in London and the yellow pea souper fogs. Scratchy
branches tore at her hands and she knew must have walked off the trail. In an
effort to find her way back, Kathleen pushed branches aside, desperately
feeling her way through nothingness. Just as she was sure she would soon be
back on the path, the ground disappeared. Kathleen fell, plummeting like a
brick. A long drawn out scream escaped her lips as the hard rocky ground materialised
out of the gloom and she lost consciousness.
Kathleen
surfaced from her death like slumber as soft footsteps approached her. Slowly,
she opened her bleary eyes. She lay in a warmly lit room. Gold shimmers
sparkled on the walls and ceiling. The floor was covered in a crystal white
carpet which was light and bouncy to the touch. Looking down at herself,
Kathleen noticed that her waterproofs and dirty tattered old hiking boots had
been replaced by a gentle white gown, not unlike the one she had worn on her
wedding day that fell to her ankles. Her hair was smooth and silky, set in
bouncy blonde curls like it had been in her youth. Her skin almost glowed and
as she stood, she felt as light as air.
“I’ve been
waiting for you.” Kathleen spun around - hardly daring to believe the voice
that she heard. He was just as she remembered him – tall, handsome, his chestnut
locks falling casually over his eyes. “Peter?” she whispered staring at her
husband. He gave a wide smile and took her into his arms. Behind Peter stood a
crowd of people. Noticing her gaze, Peter added, “They’ve been waiting too.”
Staring into the crowd she picked out her mother, father, aunties, uncles. They
were all there. “Oh, Peter I feel so happy as though I’m in heaven!” she said
beaming at him. “My wonderful dearest Kathleen,” he replied stroking her hair, “You
are.”
THE END
