Chapter 1: Don't Be Forever

Tirra-lirra, to speak sooth

No-one knows the awful truth

A long, a very long time ago,a man was saying goodbye. He may have been a good man— he may have been a strong man— but man he was, and as such couldn't live forever.

His daughter said, "Don't be long."

He threw back his head and laughed, white teeth flashing in the early morning sun, then gathered the child into his arms.

"I'm not going very far. I'll be back before the week is out, now, won't I?"

She didn't reply, only hugged tighter around his neck before letting him go. He set her back on the green lawn, ran a hand lightly over her head, and ceased smiling as he turned to his wife.

"You'll take good care of her," he said. It wasn't a question. It wasn't even a request.

"Of course I—"

"Never mind that. You will. This time." He clasped hands with her because, for all her faults, and her faults were many, he was fond of his wife for the sake of what she had been, once. Now, he tried not to reflect, she was as near to useless as you could get without actually being dead.

His mouth turned even further down and went bitter.

"If he comes here while I'm gone—" he said harshly.

"No need to worry about that," said his wife, her genteel English accent making her voice smooth and dulcet. Her eyes slipped off him and looked into the distance.

He stood for a few seconds, breathing hard. "Just you be sure of that," he said, and left.

The woman turned to the small girl, gave her a smile, and said, "Come." The girl took her proffered hand with all the innocence of an unworldy soul, and together they went into the house.

The door closed behind them very quietly.

Light shone blithely through the window one morning, illuminating everything there was to be illuminated.

It shone off the shiny brass teakettle.

It danced off the silver-plated taps.

It spun off the polished surface of the floor.

It glimmered off the puddle of something wet on the kitchen table.

It was reflected dully even in the blank, grey, wide-open eyes of the man lying facedown there.

That's how bright the light was.

Bright enough to illuminate both life and the lack of it.