Inspired by a picture showing a skeleton facing away and an upper body tilted to the right, with flashes of light

The hand of the Lord was upon me ……… Prophesy to these bones, and say to them ‘O dry bones: Behold I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinew upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall love; and you shall know that I am Lord. Ezekiel 37. 1, 4 to 6

 

“Oh, Mother, will you not speak to me? Will you not look around you and see your children, and grandchildren? We love you, we miss you. And our children would so love to have had a grandma to talk to them, tell them tales of the past. Now they are grown, and starting their own families, will you not try to hear and see us? What of your great-grandchildren? They would love to know their Granny. Oh, please, Mother, come back to us!”  Mary sighed, kissed her mother’s cheek, and rose from her knees wiping the tears from her face.

It was over thirty years since their father had died, killed fighting a fire in a school. He had saved three children, somehow getting them out to safety, injured but alive. They had recovered, but he had not. Mother had wept for days, hardly eating and leaving all arrangements to her sons and daughters. She seemed unaware of what was going on during the funeral, and for months had not seemed to be aware of anyone or anything around her. They had had to hire a nurse to care for her while they worked, and made every effort to lead normal lives.  At last she had recovered enough to be able to bathe and dress herself, but would forget to eat. So Mary and her family had moved into Mother’s home, and cared for her.

But recently, she had gone back to the way she’d been right after Father’s death. They had done everything, called in doctors, psychiatrists, even the priest, all to no avail.  She moved when someone helped her, accepted the bathing, dressing and feeding, all without response. And she was eating less and less. The only thing they ever heard was a low murmur, and they could only catch a word or two. ‘dead’ and ‘love’. Mary thought she was mourning her husband’s death.

Mary walked back to where the rest of the family were sitting discussing what could be done for Mother. “Mary, you should put her in a residence where she can be cared for. It is too much for you alone, all day every day, even with the part time nurse, and your daughter,” Jack said. He was worried about Mary, who was looking worn and older than her years.

“Jack, I can’t send her away!” Mary exclaimed. “It would feel like I had abandoned her. She stuck by me when Dennis left me. How can I not stick with her? I don’t think she has much longer to live, let it be here, in her own home.” Mary sighed, looking across at Mother, who still sat, staring out the window.

“What is she looking at?” Jack’s daughter Sarah asked. “She always seems to be looking in the same direction, what is it she sees?”

“Hmm…that’s a good question,” David said. “Let me see” He got up and walked over to stand behind Mother, and followed her gaze. “Oh, no!” he gasped.  He walked quickly back to the others. “She is looking at the cemetery – it is just barely visible on the side of the hill by the church!”

They were all stunned, and Mary said “Oh, no. That is why she will never sit anywhere else! I have tried and tried to get her to sit by the living room window, and she refuses to sit.  She goes stiff and will not move, until I turn her, then she walks willingly to that window.” She put her hand up to cover her eyes. “I should have known, because she always murmurs ‘dead’ and ‘alive’!” She looked at the others. “What else can I do?” her voice was filled with despair.

“Nothing – you can do nothing other than what you are doing, Aunt Mary.” Hannah’s voice was soft, gentle. “If sitting there, looking perhaps at where Grandpa lies gives her peace, then let her sit there. Maybe she is thinking that soon she will join him. Just do as you are doing, Aunt Mary. I think she is as happy as she can be, and she is aware that your love and care surround her.” She got up and hugged Mary. “Be at peace, Aunt Mary. You are giving her all that she needs. And we all know that she will not be with us much longer. Let her last days be calm and peaceful.” The others nodded, and agreed. Mary sighed and accepted their approval.

The phone rang a third time and David lifted it. “Hello,” he said. Mary’s frantic voice filled his ear. “Mother is missing! I had to go out for an hour, leaving her with Becky, the nurse. When I got home, I looked at her chair by the window, and she wasn’t there. I called Becky and asked if Mother was in bed. She said no, she had been sitting in the chair as usual and Becky went up to make the bed. When she came down, she went right to the kitchen to make tea, and had only just found that Mother was gone, when I got here. Please, please, come and help search! She is not safe outside alone!”

“Ok, Mary, did you and Becky search the house? What about the attic, where Dad’s things are stored?”

“We’ve searched top to bottom, and even in the garage. She is not here!” Mary was sobbing. “I should never have left her! Becky can’t keep an eye on her all the time! My shopping could have waited!”

“Mary, calm down. Neither you nor Becky can be watching her ever second. And when was the last time she did anything on her own? I’ll alert the rest, and we will spread out. We can cover the entire neighbourhood, and knock on doors and ask people on the street. What was she wearing?” David kept his voice calm and even, trying to calm his sister.

“She was wearing the violet silk dress Dad loved so much. She wears it as often as she can, and is cranky and uncooperative when we have to put something else on her; her usual black oxfords and a white shawl over her shoulders. She does feel the cold, even in this mild weather.” Mary was calmer now, and took a deep breath. “Thanks, David. I’m going to go out now and start with the nearest houses. I’ll leave Becky with instructions to stay by the phone so we can all be in touch. Don’t forget the cell phones!”

“Right, Mary. We’ll be there in a short while. I’m sure we’ll find her safe, in one of the old places she and Dad used to go to. Hang in there, sis.” David hung up, then immediately started calling the family and getting them organized to search.

His daughter Hannah put her jacket on and headed out the door almost before he had finished telling her what had happened. He called to be sure she had her phone with her, and she turned back and waved it at him, then kept on going. I’m sure I know right where to find Grandma, if she can make it that far. I’ll start at Aunt Mary’s, and look for her. She ran on, certain that she would find Grandma. But whether the old woman would still be alive was the question.

The rest of the family gathered at Mary’s, and then set out, on foot and in cars, checking every street in a spiral from the starting point. Those on foot knocked on doors, and accosted pedestrians, asking if anyone had seen a little old woman in violet silk and white shawl, with white hair and black shoes. None had, and the search went on. Mary called the police, and the patrol officers kept their eyes open for the lost grandmother.

They searched through the afternoon, and it wasn’t until sunset that a call came through. “Dad it’s Hannah. I’ve found her, but…uh…I can’t explain. Come to the cemetery as fast as you can.” Hannah sounded excited, strained and worried, and David called everyone telling them to go to the cemetery.

It was a strange sight that met their eyes as they gathered several feet away from the old woman. She was standing beside her husband’s grave, her face glowing with happiness, and her arms out. In front of her was a skeleton that, even as they watched, slowly took on flesh and features. When it was fully formed they could see that it was their father, as he had been before the fire that killed him. He smiled at her and held out his arms. Her body wilted and fell to the ground, but they could see her, glowing and ethereal, as she drifted to him. They embraced, and faded from sight. The family stood, awestruck and mute for several seconds then with a chorused sigh, they went to the body. The old woman’s face was calm, peaceful and wearing the first truly happy smile they had seen there in thirty years. The body was tended properly, and two days later she was interred beside the husband she had loved so well and so long.