Life Eternal

Life Eternal Her fingers were speckled like brown chickens eggs. They felt both hard and soft, sticks in tissue paper. Her veins were ruptured; rivers on a decaying landscape. The room was hot and dark and smelled of ancient secrets. Granny’s smell; I wrinkled my nose. She tried to smile through her agony, to make me less afraid as I fidgeted in the chair. “Be a good boy for your mother” Her gossamer voice, barely audible had reached across time and touched me. “She needs you son, look after her” I nodded, bewildered by this mystery but full of dreadful wonder. “Are you dying Nanny?” Sotto voce. “Mummy says for me to kiss you” “Come then son, kiss me on the cheek” I was hesitant and afraid. She lifted my child’s hand and gently touched it with bloodless yet tender lips. “Are you dying Nanny ? I don’t want you to die” The tears welled unbidden. “No my child. How can I die when I live on through you, my beautiful Grandson. My life is rich, and eternal.” I did not understand and was uncertain. Next day brought an empty bed and and a world of empty hearts. Now a lifetime on, it is I in the room waiting for the circle to turn. I drift in morphine haze and pray my Granddaughter will understand I hear the tiny tap on the door and try to smile so she is not afraid. She enters, thumb in mouth and I want to cry for her. I try to speak but can only croak. I reach out and see that my fingers are like brown speckled eggs