Angel in white

FOURTEEN

The road back home was longer than the road to the farm. Well, things like this always feel this way. You feel like a dark cloud is heading over you and that you feel like turning back but James has to go on and so does Merilize that's busy riding her horse up to a group of workers that took the same ride on a bakkie to the farm. The climb to the ground and look up at her that looked at them, no smile only sadness.

"Welcome back. It's been a while." She started getting their attention to her. "I hope you enjoyed you break. There's work that needs to get done and it's not gonna help itself so I'd suggest you start right away. I need to get a few things done myself."

"No, there's no way I'm letting you stay." James spoke over the phone walking through his house busy taking out his things. "I don't care. Bye."

He hung up the phone rudely and force it into his pocket. With the moment he almost tripped over one of the boxes, his eye caught a photo of Merilize where she was much, much younger.

He took the photo amd examine it carefully.

She look so pretty wearing that dark green pullover and black jersey under it, blue loose jean and brown boots.

He remember that day like it only happened yesterday. The two of them that went into town and she waited for him there when he had to go fetch something. When he came back he just felt like he had to ask if he could take a picture of her because she looked so beautiful.

The yardsale went on for days that turned into almost longer than a week that made two weeks, up to three and...a month.

Merilize became worried that something might've happened to him because he didn't call, he didn't write any letters.

He did actually call but...no one could reach her. She was cut from their world and the children was even more worried about the fact that their mom isn't picking up the phone so they didn't want to call James because they didn't want to interrupt them since he and Merilize became so close. James couldn't call them either because during the break that they took they went mountain climbing the lot of them to work through whether they want their parents to get back together or not.

James turn around from where he stood helping other clients looking into a preview of Merilize, but a much younger one.

"Hi, I'm looking for a clock." The woman smiled to him.

"Uhmmm...let me show you." He walk with her to the cabinet and on the cabinet laid the clock. "Is this one okay?"

"Thanks." She thanked and pick it up looking at it. He hair hungs loose, she's wearing a white leather jacket over her white shirt, white long jean and white boots. "So, how long will you be here?"

"About another week or two." He replied and look at her. "When I'm done selling out all of this I'm going back to Merilize."

"How long did you told her you'd be away?" She asked and show the clock to him that out of a sudden started working. From what he remember last was that clock had no batteries in it. He never even really used it.

"Who are you?" James asked curiously.

"Why ask?" She smiled and put the clock down again.

"I just want to know." James replied. She gave a little smile and walk away from him off the road. He run after her looking down the street seeing no one. She's gone.

Merilize walk into the house totally exhausted from the long day. She stood still and rub her hand around on the back of neck with a heavy sighed. She was about to go up the stairs but froze when she heard a sweet young voice singing.

"Through the wind and the rain. She stands hard as a stone. In a world that she can't rise above. But her dreams give her wings. And she flies to a place where she's loved. Concrete angel."

Merilize walk up the stairs into her room seeing the young blonde standing in the mirror brushing her hair.

"A statue stands in a shaded place. An angel girl with an upturned face. A name is written on a polished rock. A broken heart that the world forgot." She sang and gave Merilize a smile through the mirror which her reflection didn't even appear in. "You never knew I existed. I look so much like you. Thank God."

"Who are you?" Merilize asked walking closer to her.

"Someone else also asked me that question. My dad asked me that question. Now you are." The girl looked a bit upset. "I'm younger than Amelia. I'm one of you. Except, you never knew about me Merilize. Or should I say, mother."

"What are you...what are you talking about?" Merilize asked upset.

"I'm your dead daughter, hallo." The girl look around then back at her. "Anyways, I saw James. He's still at his place selling all his stuff."

"Why didn't you come to me before?" Merilize asked looking at her a bit confused. The girl look down then back at her mother.

"I did. I was in your dreams and made some appearance somewhere in your live." The girl replied immediately pulling in her lips with tears in her eyes. "Dead people can also experience emotions mother. Dead girls like me cry. I didn't come back to stay. I came back because you had to know about me. Now let me go and you will know that no matter how far we are from each other we'll always love one another."

With tears in her eyes, Merilize gave her a hug holding her tight in her arms. Tears streaming down her face like an endless river of emotions. It was the first and the last time she held her daughter in her arms. The girl disappeared and just like that, Merilize was alone again.