S is for Screammmmmmmmm

Snow was silently falling, the eerie echo of nothing except that soft, thud thud of flake upon dry flake as the heavy laden clouds hung above, waiting, waiting to fall and you knew they would. Soon that thin layer of almost icing sugar would give way to several inches of candy floss and the joy of stepping into those first steps like opening a new coffee jar, so comforting and almost sensual as if virginal…Hmm Betty thought as she wrapped her coat higher and pulled the collar of her jacket up to cover her open ears protected only by the mass of curly hair that cascaded down, never had she been more grateful for not having her hair cut on a night like this….

It was October 31st and for some unknown reason the snows had come extra early but life seemed accelerated lately, her promotion, her transformation from childish twenty five year old to almost ancient twenty seven, all gone so quickly as if in a dream, a blink. Walking onwards her hands clasped together to attempt to keep warm as she paced a step eager to reach the subway and home, it was so early and yet it seemed so late, where was everyone? She knew the holidays had started but no one around at all, no taxi's, no food vendors, no mom's rushing home with their kids from dance class….No this was so weird, so very very weird……as if another time, a dream…..

A crunch sounded behind her, not a startling sound in it's self but she felt, Betty felt so totally alone. Her heart pounding the footsteps became louder and more frequent as if several individuals were following her, her imagination affecting her senses. Increasing her pace she held her handbag to her side, surely no one would mug her it was too open, no one was that brazen….but why not she was isolated, the shop windows normally on to warm and comfort her as she raced past, full of customers having that last coffee before going home, meeting on dates, sweet steps of love, exploratory relationships….

Somehow in that moment a face came to her, stopping her in her step, taking her breath away, lying above her, gently kissing her lips and staring with a look of total love…

"Giooooo" she gasped, oh I'm so sorry, my friend, my guide, my own sweet …..why didn't I love you like you loved me….Argh I let you go and then you died. Where was it …..Daniel told me, a rainy day one year ago now, a speeding lorry that took a corner to quickly and you trying to avoid hurting anyone else as you swerved and missed those children but you…oh you didn't stand a chance…..instantly they said, not a mark on you but cold as ice and dead.

I couldn't go to your funeral, all my memories gnawing at me, the life we could have had, the fun, our children…..oh if only I'd met you now, so ready, so knowing and appreciative…

There it was again, those steps, running almost now, trying to avoid the elusive stranger, strangers she felt around her, never seeing as she stepped out onto the curb to cross the road, until she looked up, saw the yellow light approaching at speed….as she Screammmmmmmmmmmmmmed….Nooooooooooooo!

"It's okay now Babe, I tried to stop you…..you heard me but you ran….here take my hand….no more being alone B…….I'll take care of you…"

Gio, how, why….oh it was you?"

"Hmm, kissing her cheek as she lay below him, lifting her up gently …Halloween, the only night I could reach you….tell you to be careful tonight but seems fate wants us together B……look down…"

"Look down where …oh who's that?...oh it's me…I'm….dead?.......but Gio…so are you…..I'll …we'll never be separated now…will we?"

The End……