It all fell down

Chapter 2

It was early in the morning and the sun had only just risen. A mist lay over London.

On such a cold Saturday morning, the streets were empty.

But someone was already out and about, walking quickly along the pavement.

The path led her away from the city centre. She walked along the pavement towards a church. Which was fenced in with a stone wall.

The entrance was a large old iron door. She pushed it open with a creak.

She didn't walk along the pavement to the church building, no, she walked through the cemetery, right next to the church. Through the countless gravestones until she finally reached her destination.

She pulled a candle out of her bag and placed it on the stone slab in front of the gravestone. After lightning it, she sat down on the gravelled path.

" Hey mum.... I just wanted to see you before Dad wakes up... Today we're celebrating my eighteenth birthday... Uncle Reece and Aunt Marjorie are coming at lunchtime. Mia and Charlotte also wanted to drop by.... Oh, and tonight I'm going to the club with my friends..."

She took a deep breath. It was funny, her birthday was the anniversary of her mum's death.

" I wish you were here.... I've been told my whole life that I look just like you.... I hope you're proud of me..."

" She is."

The girl turned round, behind her stood an older woman with glasses.

" Aunt Marjorie! What are you doing here?"

Marjorie sat down next to her on the ground. "Well, your father rang me to say you weren't at home. I thought you'd be here... Happy birthday my darling." She stroked a strand of hair from the girls face.

The girl looked down. " Thank you. It's bitter sweet, like every year..."

Marjorie furrowed her eyebrow and looked closely at the girl next to her. She had long black curly hair. Which clearly came from Winter. But her mum's features and icy blue eyes.

" You know Aunt Marge... I sometimes have the feeling that I can't live up to my mum... I'm not like her..."

Marjorie took her hand. "Jennifer... That's right, you're not like your mum and you don't have to be. You're your own person..." she smiled." And Autumn would be so proud of you."

" Thank you...Although sometimes I would like to be more like her. Dad told me stories about how she dealt with difficult parents."

Marjorie laughed. "Well, when you've finished your apprenticeship with us. You can tackle as many parents as you like! And now come on, your father must be worried."

The two of them stood up and made their way towards the entrance. Marjorie put her arm around the girl. "That reminds me, I never told you about the time your mum dragged an absolutely obnoxious dad out of the nursery by his collar."

"What?! No, she didn't!"

"Yes, she did, so it was like that...."

What the two of them didn't know was that they were being watched. A presence had placed their ghostly arms on the headstone and was watching after them. Invisible to everyone.
" I couldn't be prouder.... My child..."