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The Ghost of Christmas Love.
Christmas is a happy time, full of music and parties, joy and laughter. For the owner and regular patrons, one in particular, of the ‘Poets Corner Cafe’, Christmas held a different meaning.
Ann sighed as she sat at her usual table. Christmas tunes floated gently through the air from the radio, and the snow fell silently outside. Looking out of the window, watching the coloured lights blink and dance in the windows down the street. The rest of the world seemed oblivious to the tragedy that happened almost 12 short months previous.
Ann glanced back into the cafe and looked across at Bill, the owner. He too was lost in thought. Their eyes met, and they smiled at each other in mutual understanding. Almost a year had passed since Bill's son Ray had been killed in a tragic accident outside the cafe, and, in 10 days time, it would be Christmas Eve, and the anniversary of that fateful day.
That night was to be Ann and Ray’s first date. They had been friends, close friends, ever since Ann first came upon this quiet little hamlet some years ago, and, in all that time, Ray never knew that Ann was deeply in love with him....
The tiny alarm at Ann’s wrist beeped gently, signalling that it was time to return to work. Standing to put on her warm coat, she smiled when Bill took it from her. “Allow me” he said. He held it out so she could slip her arms into its welcoming embrace. Turning, she placed a small kiss on Bills cheek and walked towards the door.
“Ann!” Bill called her back. “You forgot your letter!” Ann turned and looked puzzled at Bill. Walking back to him, she took the envelope from his hand and looked at it. A single word.. ‘Ann’ was written on the front. It shimmered under the cafe lights. The back of her neck prickled as she opened it, and, as she read what was written on the rose adorned card inside, her knees buckled and she slowly sank to the ground.
Bill caught Ann as she fell, and helped her to a chair. Taking the card from her shaking hand, he turned it over to read it.
“Death could not keep our love apart,
I return again, to give you my heart.”
~~~R~~~
Bill sank into the chair beside Ann, visibly shaken at the sight of the note written in his son’s handwriting..
The pale shadowy form watched through the window. No one noticed as it approached the cafe, and no one heard the gentle whisper...”soon my love...soon.”
The next few days passed without incident. No more...
Ann sighed as she sat at her usual table. Christmas tunes floated gently through the air from the radio, and the snow fell silently outside. Looking out of the window, watching the coloured lights blink and dance in the windows down the street. The rest of the world seemed oblivious to the tragedy that happened almost 12 short months previous.
Ann glanced back into the cafe and looked across at Bill, the owner. He too was lost in thought. Their eyes met, and they smiled at each other in mutual understanding. Almost a year had passed since Bill's son Ray had been killed in a tragic accident outside the cafe, and, in 10 days time, it would be Christmas Eve, and the anniversary of that fateful day.
That night was to be Ann and Ray’s first date. They had been friends, close friends, ever since Ann first came upon this quiet little hamlet some years ago, and, in all that time, Ray never knew that Ann was deeply in love with him....
The tiny alarm at Ann’s wrist beeped gently, signalling that it was time to return to work. Standing to put on her warm coat, she smiled when Bill took it from her. “Allow me” he said. He held it out so she could slip her arms into its welcoming embrace. Turning, she placed a small kiss on Bills cheek and walked towards the door.
“Ann!” Bill called her back. “You forgot your letter!” Ann turned and looked puzzled at Bill. Walking back to him, she took the envelope from his hand and looked at it. A single word.. ‘Ann’ was written on the front. It shimmered under the cafe lights. The back of her neck prickled as she opened it, and, as she read what was written on the rose adorned card inside, her knees buckled and she slowly sank to the ground.
Bill caught Ann as she fell, and helped her to a chair. Taking the card from her shaking hand, he turned it over to read it.
“Death could not keep our love apart,
I return again, to give you my heart.”
~~~R~~~
Bill sank into the chair beside Ann, visibly shaken at the sight of the note written in his son’s handwriting..
The pale shadowy form watched through the window. No one noticed as it approached the cafe, and no one heard the gentle whisper...”soon my love...soon.”
The next few days passed without incident. No more...
