Still Life in Shadow Ch. 04

Then I saw Maria Louisa Delasandro's house. She was standing in her garden looking up at me as I climbed toward the clouds, and she was not alone.

In those last fleeting moments I could see Jenn standing there by her lover, and all I could do was smile. Maybe now the two of them would step out of the shadows and live as they were meant to.

The Airbus jumped a little as it entered a thin layer of cloud, and a moment later burst into pure, raw sunlight.

I felt content, and I didn't really understand why but somehow I thought Maria would have.

The flight attendant, a really lovely woman with huge brown eyes and shimmering brunette hair, walked by a minute later, and she smiled at me as she passed.

Yes, I said to myself, it's time to get back to living.

I wondered what her name was.

I leaned back in the seat, thought of David and Max, and wondered where on their journey they were now. I could see Max's big brown eyes, that huge pink tongue wagging as fast as his tail, and Latham hanging from the mast, working to make his home as beautiful as it could ever be. I could feel them with me as I sat there. I could feel Max's hot breath on my thigh as we walked, and Latham's contented laugh as he smiled at death.

The flight attendant walked by again, and smiled at me - again.

Yes. We the living have our ghosts. Where would we be without them?

The sun was so strong and warm. So full of hope. All I could do was smile at the absurdity of this life.

'Everything's going to be okay, isn't it, Max?

Yeah . . . I knew you'd say that . . .'