Michael, he whispers, settling beside me. Its too late to change anything now. Youre nearly eighty, Mum. He turns and walks away, not letting me finish a word.
Grandma Lily draws the last of a bucket of icy water from the tap, her frail hands trembling. She shuffles, legs wobbling, down the snowcrusted track toward her cottage. The frost nips at her cheeks, her fingers barely clutch the frozen, chipped doorhandle. At the doorstep she pauses for breath, places the bucket on a step, reaches for the second one and her foot slips on the ice.
Oh, Lord, help me, she murmurs before she crashes to the ground. Her shoulder hits the edge of the step, a dull throb blooms at the back of her head. For a few seconds she lies motionless, unable to move or even sigh.
She tries to rise, but her legs refuse. Everything below her waist seems to have vanished. Gasping with horror and pain, she drags herself toward the door, grabbing at anything she meetsa cracked stool, a broken broom, the hem of her skirt. Her back twists, sweat beads on her forehead, the world spins and sways.
Come on, Lily just a bit more, she mutters to herself, trying to climb onto the old settee in the hallway. On the windowsill sits a telephone. With trembling fingers she dials her sons number.
Paul son somethings wrong come quickly she pants, then loses consciousness.
By evening Paul bolts into the cottage, the front door slamming as the wind rushes in. Hatless, his coat flapping, he freezes at the threshold, seeing his mother halflying on the settee.
Mum whats happened to you? he kneels, taking her hand. Heavens, shes like a lump of ice.
Without hesitation he phones his wife:
Emily, come as fast as you can shes terribly ill I think she isnt moving at all.
Grandma Lily hears everything, though she cant smile or shift. A flicker of hope stirs in her chest: if hes frightened, she isnt forgotten.
Perhaps this is the moment the family finally gathers? Will they save her?
She attempts to wiggle her legsnothing. Only her fingers twitch slightly. Then tears roll down her cheeksnot from pain, but because maybe it isnt over yet.
Emily arrives two days later, looking harried, pulling little Ethel by the hand as if shes been distracted from something urgent.
Right, youve finally gotten here, Gran, she says softly, glancing at her motherinlaw. Now just lie down like a log.
Ethel clings to her mother, eyes wide with worry, trying to smile, but her face wont cooperate.
Emily slips inside silently. Paul leads her to the kitchen. They speak in hushed tones, the air thick with tension. Though Lily cant make out the words, she feels the bitterness in their voices.
A few minutes pass and Paul returns, lifting her onto his arms without a word.
Where are you taking me? she whispers.
Paul says nothing, his jaw tightening. She wraps her arms around his neck, inhaling the familiar scent of oil and tobacco.
To the hospital? she asks again.
He stays silent, his steps quickening. Instead of a hospital, he carries her to the old outbuilding where potatoes, skis, and other forgotten things were once stored. The room is cold, the floor made of cracked planks, damp seeping in through the windows. The smell of neglect hangs heavy.
He gently places her on a faded armchair, covering her with a faded quilt.
This is where youll stay, he says flatly, avoiding her gaze. Its too late to change anything now. Youre nearly eighty, Mum. He turns and leaves, giving her no chance to speak.
Shock settles in slowly, irrevocably. Lily lies staring at the ceiling, the chill gnawing at her bones. She cant understand why hes doing this. For what?
Fragments of her past flash before her: pulling Paul on a sled, scrubbing school floors, buying him a winter coat on credit, paying for his wedding when his inlaws refused, saying it wasnt a proper match.
Ive always been on his side she whispers, still unwilling to believe whats happening.
She remembers Emilys cold, restrained facesharp as a blade, never grateful, only visiting for Ethels birthday. Now Lily sits in that cold storage room, feeling like an unwanted piece of junk. She doesnt know if shell see another sunrise.
Every day the situation worsens. Paul shows up less often, leaving a bowl of soup and hurrying away. Emily and Ethel never return. Lily feels life slipping away; she no longer eats, only sips water to avoid starving. Sleep eludes her because of the back pain, but the worst is the crushing loneliness.
Why? she thinks. Why this? I loved him more than anyone. I gave everything for him
No answer comesonly cold and emptiness.
One morning, as a thin beam of sunlight pierces the dirty window, she hears a soft, persistent knocknothing like Pauls heavy slam.
Whos there? she whispers, her voice barely a rasp.
The door creaks open and a silverhaired man in an old tweed coat steps in. His face is familiar, though she doesnt recognize him at first. He sits beside her and takes her hand.
Its me, Michael, he says, settling next to her.
Grandma Lily shivers at the name. Michaelher old neighbour, the man she once loved and later cast out for not fitting her familys expectations.
Michael she sighs.
He stays silent, squeezing her hand, then asks gently, What happened to you, Lily? Why are you here? Paul said youre in a home
She tries to explain, but tears blur her words. He understands without them, wrapping her in an old embrace.
Dont be afraid. Ill get you out of here, he promises. He lifts herlight as a featherand carries her into the daylight. Paul is gone, having driven into town, and Emilys not in sight. Only Ethel peeks out a window before quickly hiding.
Michael brings Lily to his cottage, lays her on a warm bed, covers her with a blanket, and brings tea with honey, feeding her like a child.
Rest now. Ill call a doctor, he says.
The doctor arrives quickly, examines her, and shakes his head.
A spinal fracture, old but not hopeless. With proper treatment and rehab she might walk again. Shell need surgery.
Michael nods. Well do whatever it takes. Ill sell what I must to save her.
Lily looks at him, tears streaming.
Michael why? After everything
He offers a sad smile. Because I love you. I always have, and I always will.
She weepsjoy, pain, relief that life isnt finished.
Michael tends to her as if she were his own, feeding, washing, reading aloud. He tells stories of the past, of waiting, hoping shed return.
I always knew youd understand one day, he says. And Ill be here.
A week later Paul returns, sees his mother in a proper bedroom, not the outbuilding.
Mum how did you? he stammers.
She looks at him coldly. I didnt. Michael brought me.
Paul drops his gaze. I I didnt expect this.
Leave, Paul. Dont come back, she says.
He walks out without looking back. Emily and Ethel never appear again.
Lily stays with Michael. He becomes her pillarliterally and figurativelyhelping her onto walkers, then a cane.
Watch, Lily, Im walking, she laughs, taking her first tentative steps.
He cries with happiness.
One bright morning, as the sun gilds the windows, she turns to him and says, Thank you, Michael, for everything.
He squeezes her hand. No, thank you for coming back.
They continue their quiet, peaceful life, finally finding the love theyd both waited for so long.
Lily sits on a bench in the garden, warming herself in the sun. Her legs still ache, but she walksslowly, steadily. Michael carves a small wooden toy for Ethel, who sometimes darts in, hiding from her mother.
Do you think Paul will ever forgive? she asks.
Michael shakes his head. Dont think about him. Think about yourself. Youre alivethats what matters.
She nods, feeling truly alive for the first time in ages.
On the kitchen table rests a photograph of a young Lily with Michael, captioned Finally together.
A month later Paul barges in without knocking, sees Lily sipping tea, Michael nearby.
Mum we need to talk, he starts, ignoring Michael.
She stays silent.
Emily says youre mad. That old man has messed with your head, Paul continues.
Michael rises, but Lily stops him with a hand. Go, Paul. This isnt your place.
Paul trembles. But Im your son!
She was. Now she isnt. Leave.
Paul slams the door, and Lily doesnt cry. She simply grips Michaels hand tighter. Thank you for being here.
He smiles. And I thank you.
Life moves onwithout Paul, but with love.
A week later Ethel runs in, sits on the bench, and hugs Lily.
Grandma, why is Daddy so angry? she asks.
Lily pats her head. Hes forgotten what love feels like, but you wont, right?
Ethel nods. No. I love you.
I love you too, Lily replies.
Michael watches them, smiling. Life, he knows, can break you, but it can also mend you. The key is never to give up.
Lily stands at the doorway, watching the road as the sun sets, painting the sky pink. Michael comes up, wraps an arm around her shoulders.
What are you thinking about? he asks.
That everythings finally okay, she says.
He kisses her temple. Yes, Lily. At last.
They step inside together, hand in hand, forever.
