The Girl Remains by Katherine Firkin

Author:Katherine Firkin [Firkin, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781761042638
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

It was getting late. Light faded through the panels of the stained-glass windows, as shadows stretched out across the hall. Daphne sat in her pew in the middle, alone. How long had she been there? She looked around; nothing other than the growing darkness to indicate the hour.

In her lap, her right hand remained clenched, the fist gripping the scrunched papers so tightly she wondered whether her fingers might have locked in place.

They walk among us. Her husband’s words rang in her head.

It had started out as another tedious day of tidying and packing, sifting through trinkets and notes, books and photographs. As each possession was either discarded in black garbage bags or put safely away in boxes, a wave of grief had flooded her body, searingly painful and utterly immobilising.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t the memories flittering back that had hurt the most – there’d been some comfort in those, glimpses back in time to when there was laughter, love and sometimes, yes, drama. No, she sniffed, dabbing at her eyes which seemed now eternally weepy, it was the unfamiliarity that had stung hardest: the unknown, unexpected discoveries she’d made within the depths of his belongings. Who was that person in the photograph? Why had he kept that collection of music tapes? Where was that souvenir pamphlet from? What was so important about that old necktie?

It was those moments that had pitted in her stomach, growing and gnawing, wrestling with one another until she was left sapped, hopeless. Who was this man she’d loved?

And then she’d found the letters.

With her left hand, Daphne hugged her woollen shawl in tighter around her, the material doing little to protect from the shivering cold of loneliness.

She’d almost missed them, tucked flat as they were inside an empty biscuit tin. What had caused her to open it up? She still didn’t know. It was as though instinct had guided her, made her flick open the container. The creepiness of the cut-out magazine letters had hit her at once.

I know what u did.

The first one had been short, perhaps even open to interpretation. But they’d got worse.

You burnt her body.

Confess or those around u will suffer.

Final warning.

The creak of a door opening. Daphne squeezed the fist even tighter as footsteps approached.

‘Still here?’ The Reverend’s wife slipped in. ‘We saw your car out the front and wondered what had happened. Can we get you something? You’re welcome to join us for dinner.’

‘Thank you, no, I’m fine.’ Daphne sat up stiffly. ‘I’m all packed and ready to go. Just taking a moment to say goodbye.’

‘Of course.’ The woman smiled, retreating. ‘Do call out if you need anything, though.’

Alone again, Daphne shoved the ball of paper in a pocket and looked to the ceiling, the ornate beams of the old church watching over her. Who was this man she’d loved and lost?

‘Robert?’ She murmured his name, waiting for a sign. ‘Are you there, love? Can you hear me?’ She closed her eyes, waiting for the feeling of warmth to rush through her, the loving light she’d held on to ever since his parting breath.

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