Silent Words
Later, after the film, Alice went to the ladies’, and the Ghost saw Maggie standing next to the doors, saying goodbye to people in a way that seemed so old-fashioned and wonderful to him. Wilbur went over to her to apologise as delicately as he could manage without feeling he was betraying Alice.
‘I’m sorry, Maggie. About the choc ice.’
She shrugged it off. And smiled a smile that contained only a small fraction of sadness. ‘It was no bother. Hope you liked the film. I have to watch it every night. Those bloody birds are giving me a breakdown.’
‘I bet. Yeah. Anyway, yeah, hope it didn’t bother you.’
She stared at him as though he was younger than his years. ‘You’re a sweet lad, Wilbur. But you worry too much.’
‘I know, but, Maggie, I just—’
He’d wanted to say something else, and for a second he felt that Maggie wanted him to. But then suddenly Alice was there and the moment was gone.
The train whistled. And he could see it, just outside the cinema at the foot of the steps. He turned one last time to see Maggie, who was now helping an elderly man across the carpet, and he felt a total love, uncluttered by time or life’s many obstacles.
‘I miss you,’ said the Ghost. And the words stayed there, as they always had, silently hanging in the air.