The Garden
It seemed like any other morning really. Amelia woke up in her large double bed, she placed her elderly feet in her slippers and put on her dressing gown. Amelia looked out the window and glanced quickly through her beloved garden that shimmered in the morning sun. Especially she loved the iris flowers that she had planted last year. She looked at her night stand clock, it was 7.20 in the morning. She walked down the stairs, passed through the hall and turned right into the old-fashion kitchen. What she saw standing in the kitchen made her head turn against her, reading a huge question-mark.
“Amelia, good morning” the woman said. Amelia convinced herself that she still was asleep. She rubbed her eyes, looking down and then looking up again, sure nothing would be there. The woman still stood there, giving her a smile. She spoke to her again, “I'm sorry if I startled you, it's just that...I don't have anywhere to go, and I saw your beautiful house and thought..” The woman looked a bit troubled, “I thought I could come in since the door was open.”
Amelia, nearly 90 years old, had never been in this situation before, she stroked her hands across the soft satin fabric in her dressing gown and couldn't really find anything suitable to say. The woman gave her a smile and took a step forward with her right hand in the air, looking for another hand to shake, “My name is Stacy”. Amelia took the woman's hand but shrinked back a bit, when she felt Stacy's cold fingers touching hers. The woman immediately spoke “I'm sorry, I'm a little frozen since I slept outside this night.” Amelia slowly nodded her head. “Stacy, maybe you want some tea or coffee?” The elder woman put on a teapot, still somewhat confused and suspicious. “yes please” Stacy replied.
The two women sat down by the kitchen table and drank their tea. Amelia thought the situation was a bit peculiar, she felt sad for Stacy for being homeless and alone, but there was something about her that made her feel uncomfortable. Something was not right. “So Amelia, I understand you have lived here a long time, you bought this house together with Hank, when he was still alive..” Amelia felt her inside burst into flames as this stranger brought up her dead husband. She nervously looked into Stacy's eyes, there was a golden spark in them. “How do you know that?” she asked her. “Maybe you consider that as an important question. But I have one that certainly is more relevant. How come your garden is so alive and thriving, when your soul is starving? Tell me why you haven't taken care of your demons.”
Amelia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Who was this woman, and what did she want? Stacy reached after the old woman's hand, “Amelia, you don't have to be frightened, I'm not here to hurt you, I want to help you to... let go.” Amelia stood up from her chair, she started saunter around the kitchen and then suddenly she stopped. She slowly turned her head around to the wall clock, staring at the minute hand, 7.20 in the morning. She rushed towards the clock, understanding with all her fears coming true, that the hand showing seconds was moving but time was not. She collapsed on the floor. Stacy got up from her seat and with a calm mothers grace she put her hand on top of Amelia's'.
“Darling,you see, the time is standing still because the world is waiting for you to leave it.” Amelia didn't know what to say anymore, she felt Stacy's hand, the warmth of it that seemed to slip into her own skin. It was no longer cold. “You have been walking on this world even though you were supposed to have left it by now. Your garden is your security blanket, it's the one thing that you cling to instead of just letting go.” Amelia was confused and a bit distressed, but she knew what this strange woman was talking about. She didn't have much more to live for nowadays, no kids and no grandchildren either. Hank had been dead for many years, she was terribly alone and she had become frightened to follow him in his footprints. The tears started to gather in her eyes, she gazed at Stacy. “but...I always thought life is...better than death. That there lies an undoubtable meaning in choosing life instead of the opposite” Stacy shooked her head. “No Amelia, not when the time is right for leaving.” Stacy pulled Amelia up, they stood beside each other. “Stacy, can I bring Fiddlers?” Amelia said while looking into the living room, seeking the cats familiar face. “Yes you can.”
Stacy got the cat and took Amelia under her arm. They stopped for a few seconds while Amelia took a last look at her house. She wasn't frightened now, she was clear about the conditions of her existence. Amelia placed herself in Stacy's old Mercedes and held her cat tight to her chest when the digital watch in the car turned to 7.21. Stacy gave her a smile and turned on the ignition key. They drove off, leaving a cloud of dust behind them.
