Thinking of you

Prologue

London, 2072

Maggie Walters starts packing her grandmother's stuffs. She wants to get rid of them as fast as she can. How could her grandmother live in the same house for almost seventy years? It's totally mystery to her. With George, a husband of hers, have had to move at least seven times due to his work. She doesn't complain because she loves getting know unknown places and she loves George. Last time they moved to Glasgow. They were thinking about moving away when that terrible news came.

Caroline Montgomery died in a car-crush with her husband Kevin Montgomery, her mother and father. The worst thing that ever happened to her family. Nobody is the same after that. George and Maggie were forced to live with her granny in London.

Alice Montgomery is ninety something years old woman, she lived for so long and nobody ever saw her cry. Until that fateful night. The deaths of her only child and daughter-in-law had very bad impact on her. So strong-headed woman cried everyday for two months with nobody to help her. Maggie and George were trying their best to bring her back to life but failed. Therefore George suggested Alice moving out to a senior house in the country. The old woman unfortunately didn't have a single word to say against it. Deep down she knew it was right. Maggie must have admire her granny. She accepted their decision without any word or hurt pride. She really is the true lady, she thought. When she was just a little girl, she wanted to be Alice. She wanted to be so strong, nice, kind, she wanted to have a loving husband and live happily ever after. Alice was her personal heroine. After so much time, she still is her heroine. How ironic when she knows so little about her actually.

In the attic, Maggie packs up granny's entire life into a few boxes. So many little things from time lost years ago. She cries when she sees old toys which belonged to her dad or photos of her parents' wedding or grandparents' lives. Maggie wishes to have the same happy life with George. Alice Montgomery was beautiful woman in her best years, with gimlet green eyes, light brown hair and enchanting smile. She was always smiling and laughing as long as Maggie could remember.

As she goes through all that stuff and finishes it, something catches her attention. Under one of the boxes lays some paper. Maggie puts down things in her hands and picks the paper up. It shocks her that it's a old photography. Very old, there's granny with some man she doesn't know. It doesn't surprises her, it could be some her friend or relative or something. But there is something different about it. Thanks to not so good light in the attic - and the fact it's pretty late - Maggie takes it to her room. All of sudden she knows exactly what's wrong with that photo. Alice Montgomery is smiling, but not like she knows her smiling. She's smiling with all of her person almost shinning. This man - is hugging her from the behind, they both are wearing sweaters and they seem so happy. True affection speaks through the black and white photography. Maggie doesn't know about another man in her granny's life. And yet, she hasn't seen Alice so happy in her entire life.

Maggie watches at clock. It's not so late, her grandmother should be still up. She just simply asks her about that man. When it was in the attic, it can't be anything special. She finds her in bed with some book.

"Granny?" Maggie asks entering the bedroom. Alice Montgomery looks up from her book to Maggie and smiles.

"Yes, my dear? Is there anything you need for the packing?" Maggie comes closer and sits on the bed.

"Yes, no. Well, I just found something you might want to keep to yourself."

"What is it?" Alice seems interested so Maggie gives her the photo. Her granny's reaction is  immediate. She stares at the photo, no muscle moves and after some time, Maggie can see tears in her eyes. 

"Where did you find it?" even her voice is different than she knows.

"I-I found it in the attic, granny," Maggie is totally taken aback. "I haven't seen this man. I was just wondering who he is," she answers truthfully. Alice finally manages to glance up back to her granddaughter.

"He is - was - an old friend of mine long time ago. Your grandpa must have hide this picture before his death," she utters more to herself than to Maggie.

"Was he special to you somehow?" It takes a while before her granny speaks again. 

"He meant the world to me," she says without any shame.

"What happened to him?"

"He's dead, I suppose. Maggie, listen, I'm really grateful that you brought this to me. It means more than you could ever imagine. But now it's not the time to say you more."

"Granny, I - I don't force you into anything. I just wanted to know who he was. If that's uncomfortable for you, than we won't talk about it." Maggie stands up and is about to leave when Alice stops her.

"Wait, I - I'm sorry, honey. It's just that I haven't told about him to anyone. You just surprised me, that's all. If you want to know about him, I will tell you. Just not today." Maggie smiles at her and nods.

"I'd like to know you better, that's all," Maggie murmurs and closes door behind her.

Alice lays on her bed with that old photography. She hasn't seen it for years. And after so traumatic months of her life it only brings old memories back with undeniable force. Maggie doesn't have plain idea what she asks for.

As she watches the photo, she sees pictures, those which she remembers like if they happened yesterday. Those, she's been thinking of from the moment they ended.

HELLO!!!! SO THIS IS MY NEW OBSESSION. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF IT - OF I SHOULD GO ON, OR STOP.  IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WRITE ANOTHER STORY (WHICH IS NOT HERE).

Thank you for reading, and hopefully see you soon... :)