Elysium Fields -Excerpt 4

Author: barebelly
Word Count: 1158
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‘Khai, its time for lunch lad, lets go before Nana has a fit’ said Poppy stepping down from the ledge and holding out his hand for Wynn to climb down.

‘I want my mum’ said Khai

‘I know you do dear boy’ said Poppy ‘Wynn, you run along and tell Nana we’ll be just a little while longer. Khai and I will stay at the wall for a bit.’

‘Okay Da, I’ll calm Ma.’ Said Wynn tuning on her heel and skipping back down the lane.

Climbing back onto the ledge Poppy leaned on the wall and watched with Khai all of his loved ones below. Khai peered deep into the sky trying to hear the low murmur of voices from below, watching his mother sit down to dinner at his Grandmas and wishing that he could be in the empty chair by her side.

A single tear trickled down his cheek and dripped gingerly from his chin. Its fall gaining momentum as it passed through the mass of shining stars and then halting abruptly as if frozen in thin air.

‘What?’ exclaimed Khai

‘Shh, watch.’ Said Poppy

As they both watched the space in the dark where the tear had fallen, a small glimmer began to flicker. Blinking in its new light the tear took on new life, growing and glowing until it was the brightest star in the night sky. Outshining all the others in its wondrous new born glow.

‘Huh? Poppy what happened?’

‘Its wonderful isn’t it?’ Said Poppy ‘Tears in heaven are not things of sadness but our gifts to those we leave behind, spreading light into their hearts and warming them on lonely nights’

Khai stared out at his new born star, his mouth wide open in wonder. Slowly his mothers image faded into the night behind his shinning star.

‘Wait, where did she go, mum come back’ Khai’s voice rose in panic, his vision blurring with unshed tears.

‘Khai, Khai its okay, you can visit any time, she will always be here,’ Poppy’s strong hands gently took hold of Khai and helped him down of the step ‘your tears created a star for her so she doesn’t miss you so much, your tears made her feel better for a little while.’

Shaking with longing for his mum his baby eyes look up into Poppy’s wise old ones and seeing only kindness and love he relaxed. Sitting down on the ledge he took a few deep breaths and felt calmer.

‘Poppy, what is this place?’

‘This is home lad, you have come home.’ Said Poppy

‘My home is with my mum isn’t it?’

‘Your heart is with your mum, your home is here in Elysium. Lets walk back and you can ask me all the questions you like on the way’ Poppy said taking Khai’s hand and walking back across the soft lawn of the parkland.

The sun started to dip in the sky as they began the short stroll back to Nana and Wynn, the trees swayed gently in the afternoon breeze and Khai felt safe walking by his Poppy’s side.

‘Poppy, you said this is my home but what about mum? And grandma and Aunty Jo and Aunty Carry and the girls and my Grandpa? Do they get to come visit me?’ Khai felt the flow of unanswered question overwhelm him so he stopped at the edge of the lawn to wait for Poppy’s reply.

‘You will always be with mum and grandma and the others, they hold you in their hearts but for now they can’t visit here…’

‘But you said, just before, that I could visit anytime I wanted!’

‘Now now, yes I did and that is true. You can visit with your mum any time at the wall, she will always be in your sight as long as you remember her and she misses you. You can always cry for her and your tears will become stars and those stars will sooth her pain just like today.’ Said Poppy trying to explain in a way that a five year old can understand.

Khai looked on, his confusion clouding his face, the frown lines on his forehead growing deeper and his tears threatening to spill over.

‘Why couldn’t I hear what she was saying at the dinner table, why were the words too quiet for me to hear?’ Khai said

‘We can only hear the important bits, when our family need our tears to feel better or when they need our laughter to be brave. Occasionally when they talk to us in private we hear some of their sorrow and some of their happiness.’

’ The wall is ours to use when we need it. Sometimes we will be drawn there by a feeling in our hearts, knowing our loved ones need us and sometimes the feeling is ours alone and we go there when we need to remember who we are.’

‘So can mummy see me, can I talk to her?’

‘Mummy can’t see you or hear you but she will always feel you. You can shed a tear for her and share your stars with her, your laughter will reach her and make her feel happy.’ Said Poppy

Starting to walk again Khai took Poppy’s hand and said ‘Will I get to be with mum again soon?’

‘That I can’t answer I’m sorry my boy, mum will come home when it is her time.’ Poppy sighs, unsure if this answer will suffice.

‘So this is mums home too?’ Khai’s voice picks up, excited to receive some good news.

‘Yes yes, this is mums home too. Everyone you love will one day join you, this is everyone’s home.’

‘When will they come? When do we know? Can we ask someone? Can we…’

‘Whoa there matey, slow down those are questions for another day, lets go inside and eat Nana’s nice lunch before she gives it to the crows!’ Poppy laughs, happy his explanation had eased the boys qualms.

Stopping just outside the small white gate Khai looks back down the lane towards the lakes, Poppy enters the yard and stops, waiting for the small boy to feel ready to come inside.

‘Poppy, can I go back to the wall after lunch?’

‘Of course you can, now come on then my boy, inside before Nana has our heads.’

Khai happily ducks under Poppy’s outstretched arm and skips up the path toward the open front door. Nana stands in the opening with her hands on her hips, her brow furrowed crossly.

Stopping at the daisy bush Khai plucks a sweet yellow bloom and hands it to Nana before wrapping his arms around her waist and breathing in the fresh baked smells of lunch.

‘Welcome home Khai.’ Nana said