Ricci Schwarzler - Rain, Tears, and Tie

He looked out over the vibrant green fields and as far as he could see there was bright green wheat, not yet ready for harvest but swaying gently in the breeze. It was mesmerising. Small hills and valleys covered in wheat. It was relaxing. Calming.

Quickly the sky started to darken. Low clouds of dark grey. So low they looked like they were touching the wheat tops.

His wife Diana brought him a cup of hot steaming tea in a delicate Royal Albert cup and saucer. It was left to her by her old Aunt. They sat together at the picture window, staring at the scene before them.

The window was large, just as a picture window should be. No mullions or transoms to obstruct the view. They sat in large soft leather, high back chairs, that were as old as the old house. Everything here was old. Except them. The house and the furniture were just as Diana’s aunt had left it. They’d cleared out all her personal items and moved in just two weeks before. Diana hadn’t even had time to mourn her properly. They had moved from the hectic city life to this rural idyll. Given up work at the age of forty and were living off the money she had kindly left them. Her aunt hated seeing them stressed and made sure they didn’t have to be.

‘It’s gorgeous here Diana, I love it and I love you.’

‘Oh, Honey that is so lovely. Thank you so much. I love it too and I love you…more! I’ve spent so many glorious days watching out this window with Aunty Viv.’

Aden smiled at her, his eyes crinkling with so much love behind them. He watched her as she stared across the fields. He knew she and her aunt were close and she missed her terribly. She loved this house and this life, and he would never take that from her. He would never tie her to that life again. He loved it here too.

‘Oh I forgot the shortbread you made.’

‘That’s ok I’ll grab it’ and with that Aden casually rose and fetched it.

Diana knew it was made with love. He loved making sweets for her and got such a thrill watching her sneak some when she thought he wasn’t looking. He smiled to himself.

‘There only seems to be four left,’ he said as he returned. ‘The rat must have got them!’

‘Yes that big, fat rat’, she laughed. ‘That was Aunty Viv’s recipe, wasn’t it?’

‘Yep.’

‘Gosh I miss her.’ Diana sniffed and with that the rain descended with a torrent against the picture window. The wheat was swaying in unison but wildly in all directions. The skies were darker than before. The dark grey had removed the blue from the scene so that everything was even more vibrant. Aden looked across and just as the rain poured down the picture window, Diana’s tears poured down her cheeks. She sobbed and sobbed. He moved to her and held her tight.

Grief must get us all eventually and so it should.