“People you love never die. That is what Omai had said, all those years ago. And he was right. They don’t die. Not completely. They live in your mind, the way they always lived inside you. You keep their light alive. If you remember them well enough, they can still guide you, like the shine of long-extinguished stars could guide ships in unfamiliar waters.”
― Matt Haig, How to Stop Time
Tucked among the day’s mail was a lavender envelope with her first name inscribed. Juliet paused, looking at the handwriting; it was haunting. She opened the envelope and a single slip of paper fell out tied with a rose colored ribbon. The ribbon was hers, long forgotten from many years ago. The note contained two lines. ‘Meet me today beneath the willow where the creek bends, and bring no book for this one day we’ll give to idleness. 4PM sharp.’ Was this someone toying with her, trying to hurt her with old memories?
Juliet spent the rest of the day waiting for the hours to tick by. At 3:45, she set out for the creek and her willow. With a trembling hand she pushed aside the graceful limbs, and stepped inside. A man stood in the shadows. “Oh my God-Jonathan? But…You’re dead!”
©2022 Linda Lee Lyberg
dVerse Poets Pub: Prosery Bring No Book!