The Way Home

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...and awoke with a start, realising that I had left my handbag by Siobhan's grave. I called out to Tommy to stop the bus so I could get off and walk back to the cemetery but he seemed not to have heard me. Either that or he ignored me although Tommy was not that type. I stood and rushed down the aisle. Still no reaction from Tommy. So I did what was probably the most stupid thing I've ever done.

I've said that the bus was old, ancient even, and it was the type that didn't have doors. As Tommy slowed down for a bump in the road, like a careless child I jumped, my feet running as they hit the grass verge. I think I stumbled then fell.

I must have been jolted more than I thought for I seemed to come out of a dazed state like another daydream. I was standing by the roadside uninjured although I could not remember hauling myself to my feet. And I noticed that the bus was missing and it should not have been if Tommy had seen my desperate jump. From where I landed, the main road runs straight for a mile or so and the bus can be seen for quite a long way.

I was confused and then realised that I was not standing by the roadside but in the cemetery by Siobhan's grave with no memory of how I got there. There was a still form lying there, one arm draped across the grave. There was a look of peace on the face, even a hint of a smile. Then I remembered my earlier sudden shock and the subsequent palpitations when I saw that I was not alone.

"Kathleen." A soft, gentle voice behind me.

I turned to see the woman in the strange hat standing there. She lifted her hands to remove the hat, revealing a face of quite extraordinary beauty. Clear golden eyes looked into mine, compassionate, so very compassionate, and radiant light surrounded her. She reached out to me, saying: "Take my hand, Kathleen."

I did as she bade me and as I touched her I felt an overwhelming rush of love from her.

"Come with me, Kathleen."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you home," she told me.

"Home?"

"Yes, Kathleen, home... where Siobhan is waiting for you..."

The End

"Everything that is and will be, will cease to be;

The moon and the stars, youth and beauty..."

(Old Irish proverb)

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34 Comments
AnonymousAnonymous7 months ago

Very beautiful and deeply touching.Thank you Maonaigh.One of your best stories to date.Keep it up.

Twowayman62

Probus888Probus888over 1 year ago

Samhain when the veil is thin... What a beautiful, beautiful literary tale worthy of being found in a short story collection. It captured their love so perfectly and was a delight to read. Although I'm not Irish, I could hear their voices and even imagine the landscape around them. Thank you for writing this little gem.

LittleTeaCupLittleTeaCupover 1 year ago

A beautiful mixture of love, tragedy, and humour. Well penned, excellently put together.

"I'll tell you what we'll do, Father Duggan, we'll carry on the way we are, sinful and unnatural and minding our own business, and you can fuck off!"

That line made me grin.

"Yes, Kathleen, home... where Siobhan is waiting for you..."

And that line brought tears to my eyes.

I hope that one day I will attain a talent as capable yo generate such a story as this.

alexwatson62alexwatson62over 1 year ago

I have found that the older I get, the more sentimental I get.

I have long lost the fear of my own eventual demise, and if there is indeed an afterlife then I know there will be someone waiting for me with open arms.

You know how much I love all your stories, but this one stands above the others and it would take the remainder of my days to illiterate the reasons.

Suffice to say a brilliantly bittersweet tale, full of the love and longing we have come to expect from a talented writer.

CeVin_ChienElleCeVin_ChienElleover 1 year ago

:-) Thank you for a much needed bit of gentle calm.

FranziskaSissyFranziskaSissyover 1 year ago

Tears, tears, tears ...... A broken heart and broken soul cant heal ....... I have no idea to sum the pain then your soulmate after 50 years is leaving someone behind ...... Even my heart now is hurt is taken ....... Its rare finding couples connected to each other with pure innocent love , older or younger ones ...... We humans search for exactly this soulmate and if we are truly lucky it will happen

Thank you for this lovely romance 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝🍀

Shaima32Shaima32over 1 year ago

A beautiful story. When you introduced it as a Halloween story I though, oh maybe not but I was pleasantly surprised by the story. It brought back a lot of memories like the Prague Spring, My Lai and who could forget Nixon? You managed to cover the history of Ireland from 1968 until now, it's been through a lot of changes and yes the power of the church has thankfully been diminished. It was a sad story though but that's the beauty of it, the inevitability that none of us live forever. Thank you for sharing Kathleen and Siobhan with us.

ThebiffThebiffover 1 year ago

So very beautiful. By coincidence I’m in Dublin as I read this. The tears in my eyes are not just from a wonderful story but for all of those people who were bullied and hounded by the Church. I’m English but 4th generation Irish (so can’t apply for nationality) but love my roots. Thank you for a story that shows modern Ireland as it is now. A wonderful country full of wonderful people of all orientations, colours and creeds.

PlunaPlunaover 1 year ago

So beautiful and lovely!! Such a rich setting too, really felt like I was in Ireland!

Nerdyqueen94Nerdyqueen94over 1 year ago

This was a true work of art. I'm simply unable to sculpt a fitting description or express my gratitude for having it in the world.

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