Paradoxically Yours...

Perchance to Die

(prompt - 'broken' 30/6/17)

"I've broken her neck!" The words were gasped out between her heartbroken sobs. "I didn't mean to. I'd never have hurt that poor old girl. NEVER!" And her tears flowed copiously down her wrinkled cheeks.

Sadie broke her loving hug to hold her old friend at arm's length as she stared in shock. She knew Emma had been wandering further and further down the 'old-timers' path recently, but this was unimaginable. "Wha-a-t? Who?" she managed to bleat out. Unthinkable! Emma wouldn't harm a living thing. What... could have brought her to this? Must be a mistake - an imagined brain tsunami - please God.

"It's... Bella..." Emma gasped.

Sadie wracked her brain in search of a Bella amongst friends, family - even acquaintances. Not one sprang to mind, and this was surprising. Unlike her friend's diminishing memory, these days Sadie's seemed in overdrive, with names and places - even dates - constantly at her fingertips (or more often at tongue-tip). But this time she had to admit defeat. No Bella anywhere. Odd. She was positive she knew every one of Emma's acquaintances.

Taking a couple of deep breaths to continue the pretence of unflappable calm, Sadie tried to sort this nightmare. "First of all, where is Bella - uhrmm - her body?"

Emma pointed to her small bedroom. "Poor sweet darling, she's on my bed—" and another wail and flurry of tears burst from the poor old soul. When she could, she garbled out a few more words. "We were right next to it when it happened. Afterwards, I put her head on the pillow, but, but— she doesn't look right, no matter how I try!" and Sadie had to comfort her anew, meanwhile bracing herself for... who knows what? and she shuddered involuntarily. Something just doesn't add up. Another deep inward breath, blown out in a harsh sigh, and she pushed the door open. Sure enough, there was an old woman with a broken neck, lying on Emma's bed.

Her heart missed a beat as she took in the whole tragic scene. All was coming painfully clear to her. Bella was obviously Emma's pet name for The Old Balloon Lady, the only name Sadie had known her by for all these years.

Emma was a small step behind her, sniffling loudly as she reached around to pick up the head in one hand, the sad body with its huge bunch of balloons in the other. A different figure altogether than the one Sadie was used to seeing in pride of place in Emma's china cabinet. And yet, quite bizarrely, the expression on Bella's face was still calm, the eyes still as wise as ever.

"I called her Bella - but only when no-one else could hear me." Emma was a little calmer, though tears still trickled down her worn cheeks. "The Royal Doulton catalogue people have no soul, no heart. They just saw another old girl... like me. They never knew then. Perhaps they never will."