Sorry for the wait…I've had some major life issues that needed to be taken care of…right now I have a lot of emotions stirring inside me so maybe I can get them into this chapter and make it more interesting.
On her 74th birthday Winnie was headed back to TreeGap. Winnie found it hard to change with the times. She missed the 20's and dressing like a flapper. Now it was all about the "Peace and Love", but Winnie knew neither. At least for the past 50 years she hadn't. On the bus she watched closely out the window while familiar things came rushing back to her. Yes they had changed, but she could still see what was once such a norm for her underneath the dust of time. Winnie had thought long and hard about what she should do when she returned to TreeGap. All 3 hours on the bus. She'd decided to say she is Winnie's daughter Andrea. And that Winnie died not to long ago from some sort of illness and She had decided to return to see where her mother grew up.
When Winnie finally got off the bus she gathered her bags. There was only one or two. Winnie had gotten used to traveling light the last 50 years. She put a cap on trying to hide her face just incase anyone would recognize her. She made her way through the town. It was a good walk to her old house. There was still a dirt road unlike the roads intown which were completely paved now. The Iron fence she used to gaze behind from into the wood was now almost completely over grown with vines. She walked down the drive way and toward the house. There was a car there a fairly new station wagon. Winnie got to the door and hesitated to knock. But just then it opened. And there stand a woman with a broom in her hand.
"Can I help you dear?" The woman asked.
"Um, yes do the Foster's still live here?" Winnie asked.
"Yes, well Mr. Foster passed on about a year ago, but Mrs. Foster is still here, but barely she holding on to every last breath." The woman said. "May I ask who you are?"
"I-iii'm Andrea Foster. My mother was Winifred Foster." Winnie lied.
"Oh my god!" The woman said dropping her broom. "Come in quickly." The woman said dragging Winnie over to an old picture on the wall. It was of Winnie but Winniw could barely recognize herself.
"Oh" Winnie said.
"You look exactly like your mother."
"Yea I know"
"Come with me Miss Foster." The woman said again dragging her daughter to a room where and elderly woman lay fighting for every breath. "Mrs. Foster, you have a visitor. I'll leave you too alone" The woman said and shut the door.
"Www…Winnie" Mrs. Foster let out.
"Yes mom its me." Winnie said kneeling down next to her mother.
"I've been waiting… fff…for you to come" She let out.
"Mom I'm so sorry I left" Winnie said crawling into the bed with her mother. "I couldn't stay here it would ruin everything if I did."
"I understand Winnie, Tell me where have you been?"
"Lots of places mother. New York, California, Mexico, they were all so beautiful."
"Winnie the draw next to my bed. Theres an envelope take it out." She said and Winnie did as she was told.
"Here" Winniesaid.
"Open it" She said weakly.
Winnie opened it and there was winnie's letter that she had left the day she ran away. And also there was a few other papers.
"Winnie those are the papers to the house, the wood, and everything else this family has. Its all for you. I've held on long enough to make sure you get them and to see my little girl again." She said bringing her hand to Winnie's tear covered face. "I love you Winnnn…" And her hand fell and her breathing stopped.
Winnie began immediately sobbing. So loud that the Woman from before came barging in. It seem the woman was her nurse. She came in and checked Mrs. Fosters pulse there was nothing.
"Oh dear I'm sorry."
"Its okay. She's with my f---. She's with my grandfather now."
"And your mother." The nurse said.
"Hmm…" Winnie let out.
The next day Winnie went to set up funeral arrangements. All she had to do was order the head stone since her mother was being buried right next to her father. When she went to order one for her mother. Instead she ordered two. One for herself.
After her mother funeral. Winnie had her grave stone put on top on the spring. The tree was cover in vines with pretty white wild flowers. The stone was heavy but light enough to slide away enough to get to the spring. The Stone read:
Winifred Foster
1899-…
Do Not Be Afraid Of Death.
Rather the Unlived Life.