HEARTBEAT OF HOPE VALLEY

by doodlesmam

This story concentrates mainly on Nathan and a new character, Morag Beatrice Gregory known as Bea. It includes all your well-loved characters and a few new ones I have added. My love for Celtic Folklore and life beyond are also brought into the story. I am no writer or wordsmith but saw this story unfolding in my imagination. This is simply written, let your imagination run wild.

7. Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

Bea was unaware of all the comings and goings. She lay in what she would later describe as "the space in-between".

Her body was no longer crippled with pain, and she had the most wonderful feeling of calm. It was like watching a moving picture, she had seen a couple of those and that was the only way she could describe what was happening.

It was bright and warm, but a fine mist seemed to envelop everything. She seemed to be standing in the middle of a long path. It stretched both in front and behind her. She was looking ahead, but something made her turn and look the other way, she couldn't see where either way went. It wasn't a place she recognised at all.

"Which way to go?"

While she felt as if she should walk straight ahead something made her turn again and as she did a shape appeared in the very distance. She couldn't make out what it was, she struggled to walk, it was like wading through a bog, she managed to get closer.

The mist seemed to hang over the building, yes it was a building, a white one, she could not remember seeing anything like it before. Did it have a steeple, no she thought, what was it? As she tried to move closer the mist rolled in thicker. Turning to look back down the path she seemed to lose her bearings, should she explore where that way lead? No, something was pulling this way, back towards where the building had appeared.

She took a few more steps and then the pain crept in again, why this direction, what was drawing her this way? The sensation grew stronger, should she fight it? Every step was so hard, keep trying she told herself... What was going on, now for the first time in years she felt fear. Then, as the mist seemed to be lifting, she swore she heard the word "Hope", was that what she needed to do, hope and prayer that whatever this was would end soon.

It did... as Bea held on to that thought Ethel let out one almighty cry, the nurses rushed to her bedside, she was back. Her eyes opened and she smiled that smile. Tears streamed down Ethel's face and in front of everyone in the room she offered up yet another prayer, this time one of thanks.