Damaged Goods by Diane McNab - HTML preview

WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE

Lily is waiting on the front steps as the car pulls in to the driveway. Without letting the driver open the door I jump out and run in to Lily's arms.

“Lily, what is it, what has happened?” I ask.

Lily hugs me close and says “I am so sorry Jane but your Mother has gone.”

“Gone” I ask “where has she gone?”

Lily's answer was “Hopefully to a happier place.”

The night before my Father was not in residence. Lily and Mum played scrabble for a time and then Mum said she might have a long bath and call it a night. Noticing Mum was not too steady on her feet Lily said she would draw a bath for her.

“For God's sake I can manage that Lily, besides you have had a long day, go to bed.” She then grabbed Lily and hugged her tightly.

Lily went to bed thinking sadly this house is not the same without Jane.

Lily found my Mum the following morning. Mum had not drawn a bath she had simply drawn on both her wrists with a razor blade, bleeding out for God knows how long.

It was a closed funeral. The only people in the parlour was Father, myself and Lily. Father had strongly expressed he did not wish Lily to attend but she stood her ground. So there we stood, a sorry little trio.

It was at this point I realised she was to be cremated. I could remember her once saying to Lily she wanted to buried, not cremated, as that gave her the heebie jeebies. At the time Lily's answer was “When your time is up, your time is up” and Mum said she was probably right.

I pulled on my Father's suit sleeve and said “Mum never wanted to be cremated.”

He answered coldly “She has no say it now.”

On that note Lily exclaimed “May God forgive you” and stormed out.