The elderly lady shuffled the few remaining steps to the park bench and sat down, happy to catch her breath and rest for a moment. The autumn sunshine was warm, but the nip in the air made her glad of her warm coat. She placed her handbag neatly on her knee.
“Good morning,” said the silver-haired gentleman at the other end of the bench. “Beautiful day.”
Elsie smiled. “Yes, it is. Cold, but lovely.”
The man folded his newspaper and returned the smile. “I’m George.”
“Hello, George. I’m Elsie.” She re-arranged her scarf, her gnarled fingers struggling in the cold.
They sat for a few moments quietly, looking over the city. “I’ve always loved this view.”
“Pardon?”
“The view,” George repeated. “I’ve been coming here since I was a boy. I used to watch the trains.”
Elsie looked to where George was pointing, down the hill towards the city.
“I liked the steam trains. Do you see?” He added.
“Yes, I can see. No more steam trains now, though, I’m afraid. It was different, then.”
George nodded. “It was. I’d travel the country. My folks had no idea where I was half the time. It wasn’t like it is today.” He paused. “Do you have children?”
“Yes, two. And grandchildren, now.”
“Then you’re blessed. What are their names?” George turned to look at Elsie, noticing her careworn face, the long, white plait that rested over her shoulder.
“Timothy, is the eldest. He has two little ones of his own now.” Elsie said, proudly. “Well, not so little now. They’ve grown and gone, too. I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like.”
“I’ve always liked the name Timothy.”
Elsie smiled. “And then there’s Ellen. She got married, finally, last year. She’s nearly sixty! She finally took the plunge.”
“Well that’s lovely!”
“It is. It was. She looked beautiful.”
George sat back. “I always wanted children.”
Another few moments passed by, quietly.
Elsie looked over. “You can read your newspaper, George. I don’t mind.”
“No, no. It’s okay. I don’t often get chance to chat. Especially with a beautiful woman.” He said, with a wink.
Elsie chuckled. “Charmer. I bet you broke some hearts.”
“I don’t know about that!”
“Did you grow up around here, then?”
“Yes,” replied George. “Not far. And I went to school here, too. Calder… Calder something.” He shook his head. “I forget.”
“Age does that to us, doesn’t it?” Elsie asked, softly.
George shrugged. “I guess it does.”
She sighed. “It takes away the most precious things. Our bodies, our minds, our memories.”
They fell into quiet again, both looking at the city sprawled out before them, lost in their own thoughts.
“May I ask you something, George?”
He turned to look at her again. “Of course!”
“Have you ever married?”
George shook his head. “No, I never married. There was a girl I knew… once. I forget her name. Have you?”
“Yes. I was lucky enough to marry my best friend. The love of my life.”
“Well that’s wonderful!”
“Yes. It was wonderful. I’ve… lost him now. And it’s lonely. Terribly, terribly lonely.” Elsie looked down at her lap.
George reached over and took her hand, tenderly. “I’m very sorry for your loss. How long ago?”
“Around five years ago. Nothing has been the same since.” Tears filled her once, bright blue eyes. They were cloudy now; age and sorrow had faded their beauty.
George frowned. “That’s such a shame. Do you have anyone close?”
Elsie shook her head. “They have their own lives. Timothy is in Chester, Ellen in Manchester. And I feel like all I do is cross names out of my address book.” She paused. “All of my friends… They’re all gone.”
George reached into his pocket for his handkerchief and offered it to her. “There, now. It’s okay.”
Elsie managed a small smile. “Thank you.” She wiped her eyes. “It’s silly. You must think I’m an old fool, sitting on a bench, crying.”
“Not at all.”
“Well I feel like an old fool. I should be glad of what I have. I’m still here, my children are happy and healthy. You were right, I have been blessed.”
George looked puzzled. “What?”
“A minute ago, you said I was blessed. For having my children.”
“Oh, that’s right.” He shook his head. “I’m more forgetful, the older I get.”
Elsie tried to pass the handkerchief back but George refused. “Keep it, I have plenty.”
“Okay, I will. Thank you.” She opened her handbag and tucked the handkerchief inside. She snapped it shut again. “It’s a funny old life, George, don’t you think?”
He tilted his head, not understanding. “In what way?”
“I just… can’t believe I’m here. At the end of my life. And what do I really have to show for it?”
George didn’t reply.
“I don’t feel any different than I did ten years ago. Twenty years ago, even. And now when I look in the mirror, an old woman looks back.” She sighed. “It all feels so… pointless.”
George cleared his throat. “I don’t know how to help you with that one, I’m afraid,” he said, a little uncomfortably.
“I know, George. I don’t expect answers. I just wanted to say it out loud.”
Quiet fell again.
“I used to take the trains, you know. All around the country.”
“Yes. You said.”
George laughed. “I did?”
Elsie smiled, indulgently. “Yes. And your parents didn’t know.”
“Not a clue. Not like today.”
“No, George. It isn’t like today at all.”
George turned to look at her. “Do you know, you seem really familiar. Have we met before?”
Elsie sighed. “Yes. We have met.”
George frowned.
“And it’s time we went home. This cold is getting right to my bones.”
George continued to frown.
“Come on. I’ve got a casserole in the oven. And then it’s time for the racing. You like the racing.” She stood, stiffly, then held her hand out. She smiled, encouragingly. “Come on, George. Home time.”
George stood, still frowning. “Home?”
“Yes, sweetheart. Home. And we can ring Tim later and see him on the screen. Remember?”
George nodded slightly and stood.
“Don’t forget your paper.”
The elderly couple walked away from the park bench where they had sat every Sunday morning for the past fifty years, hand in hand, back to the house where they had raised their children. Empty now, thought Elsie as she lead her husband back through the park. Entirely empty.
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163 comments
This is the level of realism in dialogues that I’m striving for in my own work! You’re truly inspiring!
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I genuinely think that's the best compliment I have ever received! Thank you so much... it really means a lot x
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Kate, well deserving of a win. A touching take on the classic theme of caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's. I think the way you gradually built the story really made this sing. Splendid work !
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Thanks, Alexis. The character of George is based on my father, so there is an element of truth. I think this has helped my readers feel more connected to the story. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
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Oh my gosh I completely misread this story! I thought it was about them both being dead and Elsie coming back as a ghost to take him to the beyond. The more grounded, Alzheimer’s twist is much more emotionally resonant. Thank you for this comment pointing it out.
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Hi, Audrey !! (First of all, I've always loved that name!) No worries at all. The lovely thing about reading is that all of us have our own experiences and interpretations we bring to a story. I think it gives a story a different flavour when another person has a different take.
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You absolutely broke my heart with this story. I'm very interested in neuroscience, so seeing it interwoven so seamlessly into a fiction piece is beautiful. Congrats on the win! Very well-deserved :)
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Thanks so much! It is a terribly sad story, but a common one, I fear. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
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Kate, congratulations on the win. You crafted a sad but beautiful story. The dialog was moving, and very reflective of a real life situation dealing with a person who has dementia. It brought tears to my eyes. Well deserved accolades.
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Thankyou. I really appreciate the time you have taken to read and comment ☺️
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It's so beautifully written. I love such simple stories with a deep sense of emotion. I don't understand most of the stories written now-a-days. But this one resonated with me and teared me up. I am also getting forgetful by the day and fear the coming days. But right now I just want to enjoy whatever I am getting blessed. with.
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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. My father has dementia, so this story was really personal. I agree with taking each day as it comes - no-one can know what is around the corner. Thoughts are with you x
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I loved this story. It’s sad but it was so sweet too when I realized they were married. It made me think of my husband’s grandparents who were high school sweethearts and were always the cutest couple when they were here on earth. You painted such a vivid portrait. Congratulations on your well deserved win!
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Thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. There are elements of my own grandparents in the story - my grandfather was named George and the part about the trains is a ‘nod’ to my own father’s childhood. X
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This was incredibly moving and very poignantly written. I lost my dad to Alzheimer’s and this piece captures the point that the memories may be lost but the love never is.
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Thankyou. My father is also a sufferer, so this piece was really personal. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
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Congratulations Kate.
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Thank you!
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Oh wow. So sad. So true. I couldn't stop reading until the end. Very good.
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Thank you for taking the time to read and comment ☺️ x
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This is a beautiful story. Congratulations. With that level of forgetfulness (short-term memory loss is mild compared to what you have described), it is best to go along with them and not argue and remind. Your MC handled it well. With gentleness and tact. You handled it well!
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Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. I agree with the tactic of ‘going along’… I’ve seen it with my own father and it just leads to distress. Dementia is a cruel disease.
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This was so beautifully written! I loved the simplicity of the story and the seamlessness of the dialogue between Elsie and George. There were many moments when I had tears in my eyes (I also wanted to say, that the feeling and mood of this story somehow took me back to when I watched The Notebook, which is incredible). Amazing work! Well deserved win :).
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Thank you for taking the time to read and leave such a lovely comment - I really appreciate it. (I will admit to having never seen The Notebook, but don’t tell anyone!) Thanks again x
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What cuts me about this one, Kate, is not the familiar story about grieving the loss of a loved one long before death; it's the simultaneous tragic futility of Elsie's brave face, as well as the willing sacrifice of her best efforts. We know how she truly feels about the situation, given her inner monologue, but we also get to see the facade she puts up for her husband, knowing it will matter only a little, and only for a moment. She's both brave and generous to keep the faith as she does.
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Thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely comment. You have definitely hit upon my feelings about Elsie and the situation she finds herself in. She is a genuine hero.
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Made me cry. So lovely, and I'm 86, so I know the feeling of getting old. Well done. Thank you.
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I'm glad you liked it, but I'm sorry it made you cry! My father is 77 and has dementia so this story was special to write. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment - I very much appreciate it.
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This was beautifully done. The way you touch your readers, by allowing us to feel like we are standing there looking in, is a great talent!
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Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment :-)
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I really enjoyed this read. It reminded me of the short film The Wait (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuRHHmXbzYs). I especially liked how natural the dialogue felt. Having it take place between an elderly couple added a level of relatability.
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This was such a beautiful and touching story. I know it was also sad but the beauty of it and the fact that the love was still there even if the memory wasn't. The fact that they didn't 100% lose each other was so sweet and touching. Really loved this one.
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This is the kind of short story we all hope to write someday. Splendid work.
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That's a truly lovely thing to say! Thank you 😊
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So well-written. You had my attention immediately. I could relate to that couple on so many levels. It is a well-deserved honor and you have my admiration.
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Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. It was a story close to my heart. 🙏
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This story genuinely caused me sadness, which is rare. I actually cried. Fantastic job on getting such clear conversation out that flowed so well.
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Thank you! Sorry for the tears though!
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And now I’m crying. Great work
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Oh no!! Sorry!! Thanks for reading though ☺️
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