THREE TIMES TO SAY GOODBYE
Let's Talk|September 2020
From almost 100 entries received, this is the winning story in the Let’s Talk Short Story Competition 2020, sponsored by Jarrold. This poignant and moving story was written by Janet Collingsworth, of Aylsham, Norfolk.
Jan Collingsworth
THREE TIMES TO SAY GOODBYE

OUR FINAL GOODBYES were said a long while ago, though, seemingly they were said today. For everyone else, today was their last chance to say a fond farewell, to share a memory or an anecdote, to whisper a final word. Today was their turn for tears. Their turn to express their loss. Their turn to grieve. We stood together at the church to sing the hymns and to listen to the music you chose all those months ago when you were still able to do so. I felt so alone.

Our first ‘goodbye’ was 11 years, three months, one week and five days ago. The day we learned that life was no longer going to plan. The day when our hopes for the future were dashed. The day our lives were turned upside down, never to be righted again.

I remember walking hand in hand down the long hospital corridor oblivious of everything going on around us. It was like being in slow motion. Like being in a tunnel that cut us off from the rest of the world. We saw nothing. Heard nothing. We walked in a parallel universe holding tightly to each other’s hands, numb to all thoughts and feelings. That corridor went on and on until we reached the revolving doors that spun us out into the waiting world where everything was happening as normal.

Cars drove past, ambulances rushed by screaming and flashing blue lights. People walked by talking, laughing, shouting into mobile phones. We stood and wondered how everyone and everything had stayed the same while our world had just been shattered.

“Sorry love,” you whispered as you squeezed my hand. A tear trickled down your face as you leaned and wiped away tears that I didn’t know I was shedding.

“Let’s go home,” you said, as we headed to the car park. You handed me the keys, “I’m tired,” you said, “you drive.”

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Let's Talk.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Let's Talk.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM LET'S TALKView All
STOP ME AND BUY ONE: Nigel's on the way with his 1981 Bedford
Let's Talk

STOP ME AND BUY ONE: Nigel's on the way with his 1981 Bedford

It’s something we all recall with delight. “Mum, it’s the ice cream man!” Let’s Talk’s motoring man David Clayton meets someone happy to be the owner of a Bedford ice cream van. Bring on the Strawberry Mivvis, choc ices and 99s ...

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2020
Beautiful Hill: Normandy Origin For A Name Meaning
Let's Talk

Beautiful Hill: Normandy Origin For A Name Meaning

Let’s Talk’s surnames expert Derek Palgrave, from Suffolk, researches three more of our readers’ names, the first of which probably stems from the geographical presence of a beautiful hill.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2020
Words of wisdom about a hobby so many of us love
Let's Talk

Words of wisdom about a hobby so many of us love

Let’s Talk’s gardening expert Charlotte Philcox has been trawling through some books to find words of wisdom from so many people about gardening and farming. Here she shares just a few.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2020
Vicki remains so positive despite missing her panto
Let's Talk

Vicki remains so positive despite missing her panto

For actress Vicki Michelle, Christmas usually means performing in panto. But, due the coronavirus pandemic, this year will be different. Vicki speaks to Rachel Banham about her plans for the festive season, her outlook on life and her fond memories of filming in East Anglia.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2020
Two centuries on Thomas would be DELIGHTED WITH HIS SUCCESS
Let's Talk

Two centuries on Thomas would be DELIGHTED WITH HIS SUCCESS

He was a man without sight but with such vision. Derek James remembers Thomas Tawell who died 200 years ago.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2020
TURNING 50
Let's Talk

TURNING 50

Here at Let’s Talk we recognise that our magazine is targeted at those aged 50 and older. So we hope we are always fair to our readers and to the older generation in general. But it seems many believe other media and businesses do not treat older people in the best way.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2020
THE CHASE COULD BE ON FOR a Norfolk home for Bradley Walsh
Let's Talk

THE CHASE COULD BE ON FOR a Norfolk home for Bradley Walsh

He is one of the most popular celebrities on television at the moment. He’s a comedian, singer, actor, personality and probably the best quiz show host doing the rounds. David Clayton looks back to when Bradley Walsh came to Cromer.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2020
The calendar is rolling around to the WINTER SOLSTICE
Let's Talk

The calendar is rolling around to the WINTER SOLSTICE

Claire Manion, of Norfolk-based Broadsky Astrology, looks at how we have always honoured the winter solstice, our shortest day.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2020
PEACE, GOODWILL AND PROSPERITY must surely follow
Let's Talk

PEACE, GOODWILL AND PROSPERITY must surely follow

In view of such uncertainty hanging over the rest of this year – and possibly well beyond – it was hard to come up with a suitable offering for December in his usual style, says Keith Skipper. So, he has decided to settle for a festive story set in 1951, that he wrote some time ago.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2020
Friends
Let's Talk

Friends

Readers of our short stories don’t have to have long memories to recall work by Anne Maxwell, who had a previous short story entry published in the summer.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2020