One Way Or The Other

One Way Or The Other(Annie Frame) One Way Or The Other.

Hilda stood in the long queue in the hospital corridor. She wasn’t best pleased, because she really should have been resting her ample bulk in bed. Nevertheless the feeling to join the slow moving chain had persisted, until she’d left the warmth of the bed and joined the end of the line. It moved at snail pace, yet she didn’t feel able to chat to the person in front and there wasn’t anyone behind. So she remained alone with her thoughts which weren’t very pleasant. They were tedious ones that she’d fought most of her life. Thoughts of how she’d treated others in the past with malicious calculated deeds so well planned, they were still none the wiser or so she thought. She continued to battle her conscience as she always had until she found her self at the front of the queue. Disappointment filled her to the brim as she slowly observed the silly looking little man, dressed head to toe in white. The urge to brush him aside crept into place, yet something told her she’d never forgive herself if she did. He smiled and his warm eyes met her cold ones. “Come along Hilda, it’s time for you to be allocated your chosen route.” Baffled she wanted to tell him that she was far too poorly for any travelling and must stay in hospital until her illness was stabilised, but no words left her and instead she shuffled forward and dutifully followed him to a bench on one side of the corridor. He sat down, patted the bench gesturing for her to sit alongside which she did. Hilda waited for the peculiar little man to say something, anything, yet he didn’t. She thought about breaking the ice by commenting on the weather, but decided against it. Eventually he raised his left hand and pointed to the left, her eyes observed the view which made her gasp. If peace had a signature then this was it, thought Hilda. Her eyes continued to devour the beautiful horizon that shone with awe. Although nothing of earthly significance presented itself, it oozed fulfilment of a different kind. Finally the little man gently tapped her arm, forcing her eyes to leave the scene. She quietly cursed him under her breath and heard him tut with distaste. Shame immediately coloured her cheeks which was a surprise, because she’d never blushed in her entire life. Reluctantly she moved to the next view on offer, which was a great disappointment. A long dreary path was the main feature with sad dismal bracken at either side. Low hanging dark clouds hung above and appeared to almost touch the ground. Instant boredom nestled into place so Hilda wasted no time in using her voice, “I must get back to bed, so if you’ve nothing better to show me I’ll be on my way.” A long daunting silence descended making her regret each word. Finally he replied, “So which way is it?” She was no longer in the mood for mind games, so snapped back, “What on earth are you talking about?” His gaze never faltered and made her shudder, but she was no shrinking violet so held eye contact until it pierced her facade. He lifted his arm for a second time and pointed in the direction of the dreary scene. No words needed to be used, because she knew what was being suggested, “Over my dead body!” She shrieked hysterically which made him say, “Exactly.” She glowered at him with fury, showing the true colours that carried her through life, but they had no effect whatsoever and he simply dissolved from her world. Alone on the bench she carried the new weight she now owned. What did it mean? Why had she stood in the bloody queue in the first place? After a long while she forced herself onto her feet and shuffled back to the bed she’d left earlier, only to find it was already taken. Furious she made her way over, fully intending to heave the sleeping woman out of the comfort zone and onto the cold hard floor. When she reached the perfectly still body on the bed there was no more denial. Her mouth hung open as she stared down at the mirror image she’d unwittingly left behind. A restless urge forced her to turn around and look to pastures new. It was still there hanging in the earthly air, and would be until it claimed who it had come for. She reluctantly walked slowly into the dreary scene she’d spent an entire lifetime creating. A short while later Hilda was found dead by a bustling nurse who stated knowingly, “It’s always one way or the other.”

Annie Frame. Copyright May 2011.