Writing for Fun
March 2021
Ferry to Meriden - Lynn Gale
'Shopping,' she declared as the wind whipped around her thin pale face, 'I am going to spend, spend, spend.'
She laughed, tasting the tingle of salt on her lips.
An elderly couple leaning over the rail smiled at her excitement. 'Good for you, love,' the man commented.
'Off to Port Meriden?' his wife asked, taking note of the woman's shabby coat and scuffed shoes. A small battered brown suitcase by her feet.
'Yes, I intend to visit Meriden Plaza.' A gust of wind lifted her long dark hair, exposing the mauve and yellow bruises that adorned her neck like a medieval ruff.
Catching the look of concern on the older woman's face, she pulled her collar up in an attempt to hide the telltale marks.
'Goodness, you'll need a king's ransom to shop there; I'm Rose, this is my husband, Harry.'
The man nodded towards her.
'Are you on your own, love, no partner, boyfriend?' Rose made Harry switch places to get closer to her.
'A husband, once, but he died, now it's just me.'
'Oh, I am sorry, was it sudden?'
'Um, you could say that.'
'Was it an accident?' She slithered along the rail, hungry for more information.
'Leave the girl alone, Rose,' Harry said, 'she may not want to talk about it.'
She gave him a grateful smile.
Harry grabbed his wife by the elbow, 'Come on, let's go inside and get a cup of tea; someone might even know the footie score.'
Rose allowed Harry to lead her away, protesting under her breath.
Now she was alone on the small deck.
Kneeling, she opened the case and took out a large photograph, showing a smiling happy couple on their wedding day.
'Incredible,' she scoffed, 'how pictures can deceive.'
He promised her the world, everything she could possibly want.
She only wanted the simple things, instead, she was beaten and humiliated daily.
She ripped the photograph into tiny strips and sprinkled the pieces out over the water.
Removing a bulging paper bag from the suitcase, she opened it up and peered inside, running her fingers over the thick wad of notes inside. He was so predictable, using the year of his birth for the combination.
'Paid in full.' She smiled, pushing the envelope deep into her coat pocket.
Finally, she lifted the case, which contained the blood-stained knife and clothes, balanced it on the rail, then dropped it over the side. Glad she had added that piece of broken slab as she watched it sink beneath the waves.
She had wondered why he had taken up the patio and dug a large hole.
'Thought you could do with this.' Rose appeared, handing her a plastic cup of hot sweet tea.
'Thank you, Rose,' she accepted it gratefully.
As she sipped her tea, she thought back as the bad memories of the last year shrunk away across the churning water.
'He should have checked I was dead,' she thought and smiled. That hole proved useful.
'Everything ok, dear?' Rose asked.
‘Perfect.'
Rose looked at the young woman next to her, laying a comforting hand on her arm.
In mutual silence, they watched the sun go down from the deck of the Meriden Ferry.