Engraved in stone
She watched the demolition team enter her old school. In the next few days it would be raised to the ground. The end of an era she thought, Christ, it was depressing.
Suddenly a thought entered her head, could a mystery finally be cleared up. She ran out of the house over to the demolition team, who were just bringing their equipment onto the site. The site foreman watched her running towards him. He had seen it hundreds of times before, the last minute photograph, a piece of the rubble. He was a bit taken aback when she asked if she could get onto the roof. She explained the circumstances to her request. He looked at her, then at the building. You say he climbed up the front of the building.
Yes, it scared the out of us at the time.
Scaring the out of me just now. He arranged a cherry picker to take them to the top of the building. The building had a walking space just below where the roof ended. He helped her out, and for some reason felt a lump in his throat.
She walked along till she came to the spot. The writing was slightly faded, but it spoke volumes. She thanked the foreman as he helped her back into the cherry picker.
She took another look at the building and left.
Two days later she opened the door to find the foreman and two workers looking slightly embarrassed. He told her he had mentioned it to the guys, and they thought it only right, the section of stone be cut out and delivered to you.
She was over the moon, but asked the men if they could put it in the back garden, the writing facing away from view. She explained her dad didn’t like him.
They laughed but immediately understood.
In a month's time, she would be married, finally moving out of the area she had called home for the last twenty-eight years. This Saturday would be her hen do, it was all moving fast. Why the hell was she feeling sad, what possessed her to go onto the roof, those words were thirteen years ago, and now she had a reminder sitting in the garden torturing her.
It had been two years since Tony had been back home. Looking around, not much had changed. Maybe that was why he never stayed too long. He had been a mercenary for five years now, kept telling himself another six months and that would be it, then he would find another war. He never kept in touch with old friends, never really needed to. His mum kept him up to date every time he came home. One thing was for sure, they were all doing better than him. One day, he thought to himself, one day. The town had changed slightly, new bars had emerged, they even looked modern. At the age of twenty-eight, he felt quite old. He felt even older when he entered the bar. The music, though good, was too loud for him. Time had left him behind, he thought. He drank his drink quicker than he wanted to and left, meeting her on the way out.
Long time Tony, you enjoying my Hen Do.
Is that yours, congratulations, who’s the lucky guy?
You remember John Clark. Yeah, he’s a great lad, you’ll make a great couple.
I solved a thirteen-year mystery last week.
Oh, I always love a mystery, is it a murder mystery?
No, it’s a love mystery at our old school.
I heard it was getting demolished, what teachers are you talking about.
No teachers, Tony, just me and you.
Okay, Julie, you’ve lost me.
I got the demolition guys to take me onto the roof. I found what you wrote.
That was thirteen years ago, Julie, we were kids.
Did you mean it?
Yes, I meant it.
Right, do not say a word. Tomorrow night, meet me in the Sheridan Hotel.
He watched her walking back to the party slightly bemused, wondering why she wanted to see him.
He met her just before eight.
She got straight to the point. I’ve booked a room, we’ll have a couple drinks before we go up.
Have you lost your mind, you’re getting married soon.
Consider it your wedding present to me.
Julie, have a good think before you regret this night.
I won’t regret it, I’ve thought of nothing else since I saw you. It was the next morning when they said goodbye. She knew there was no point asking him to stay, she even thought of running away with him, but she knew what the answer would be. She regretted nothing as they kissed goodbye.
The sun was shining when she went to visit his grave.
His mum was sitting on the bench talking away, just as she did every visit. She remarked to Julie, the great job the stonemason had done incorporating the stone into the headstone. Baby, Tony, was sleeping as they both headed back home chatting away discussing the up-and-coming birthday party. It was that night as she was putting the baby down for the night. The thoughts of what might have been entered her head. Were there any regrets. She kissed their baby good night. No regrets, absolutely none.
Copyright ©
Paul Bell
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