The Sadness of Beautiful Things: Stories by Simon van Booy

Author:Simon van Booy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2018-10-02T07:00:00+00:00

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A few hours later Ben opened his eyes and sat up quickly. A wet dog stood with a stick in its mouth. Night was draining into the sea.

When they got back to the car, it was almost six. The eastern sky was dazzling. Gloss white paint on iron benches looked bright and delicate.

They talked a little but were mostly silent. Ben noticed she’d kept the fish fork. It was under the hand brake with some coins and the wrapper from her ice rocket.

When they came to a busy roundabout, Ben said it was probably the best place to get out. It was the morning of a different day. The roads were full of people going to work. Children drifting in groups toward school fields.

Diane pulled over and slipped some notes from her wallet.

“Take the train the rest of the way.”

Ben looked at the money in her hands.

“Please,” she said. “Take something for your journey.”

When he closed the door, they stared at one another through the glass, but only her outline was visible. It was the first of many times he would try to remember her face, the first of many times he would look for someone and not see them—search for someone whose absence defined him.

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