Fiction Friday #2

Fiction Friday #133 – Start your story during a religious ceremony…

Lucy turned around in her seat, to watch everyone file in through the double doors and down the aisle. The fake holly leaves and tinsel strung between the pews was beginning to look depressed, drooping in the middle and bare in spots where children had sat. Marie was talking to an older couple, their heads were bowed towards her and they were listening intently. She looked up briefly, and caught Lucy’s eye. Smiling at the girl, Marie turned back to the couple, and wound up the conversation.

Making her way back over to Lucy, she pulled a Santa hat and elf ears from her bag. She leaned over and carefully placed the elf ears on top of Lucy’s own ears and then touched her nose to Lucy’s. Lucy smiled and hunkered down in her seat, feeling a little self-conscious at the show of affection from Marie. But no one seemed to notice, and Lucy straightened herself in the pew.

A few moments later, the strains of “we wish you a merry christmas” filled the room, and Lucy watched the orchestra in amazement as they continued to play more Christmas carols, drowning out the chatter and eventually taking control of the sound within the Church. Everyone had stopped to listen to them, and some people had started to light candles, the waxy scent permeating through the must that somehow belonged to the building.

Outside, the clocktower opposite the church boomed midnight. Red and green globes flicked on and off in the windows of houses, and little boys and girls were curled up tight in their beds, waiting for the sound of slieghs and reindeer on their roof.

Lucy tucked her hand into Marie’s elbow, and pulled her feet up underneath her on the chair. Resting her head on Marie’s shoulder, she closed her eyes, trying to remember a moment like this in her own past. Christmas had never been anything other than another day for Lucy. Marie had introduced her to a tradition that was more than just setting up a tree and buying presents. It was about being with the people that needed you, and being there for them as well. It was about showing how much you cared, and how much they meant, simply by spending time with them, and telling them that you loved them.

Lucy didn’t know anything about that. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt safe with anyone. But she felt good around Marie – safe, loved, entrenched in her life. A lady with long black hair approached them, and gestured to Lucy to scoot across. Marie leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, and the black haired lady smiled.

“Kerry, this is Lucy,” Marie nudged Lucy, and she put her hand out for the black haired lady to shake. Even though she was smiling, there was a certain level of sadness that was underpinning this woman, and Lucy went cold the moment their hands made contact. The black haired lady looked at Lucy quickly, sensing the drop in temperature that suddenly enshrouded them.

“You can see her, can’t you?” she asked, and Lucy nodded. Marie looked at both of them, noticing that something was being exchanged between them, but not sure of what it was. When she saw Kerry tear up though, she knew. She grabbed for their hands, still linked, and quickly pulled them apart. Heat began to flood in around them and the colour that had drained from Lucy’s face returned.

“Who was she?” she whispered.

“My daughter,” Kerry replied. “She was killed 5 years ago, today.”

“I’m sorry,” Lucy stood up and moved past Kerry, into the aisle. “I’m sorry, Marie.” She looked at her friend, willing her to understand, and then headed up the aisle and out the doors. The carols were still playing, soothing in a way Lucy couldn’t explain, so she didn’t go far from the church. Finding a spot out of the entrance, but still in view of the doors, Lucy sat down. Before she could even register it, the tears had started to slide down her cheeks, and she ached for the warmth and comfort of her mother.