Many things have happened in this village over the last few weeks, all dark, all venal. A brooding malevolence seems to be hanging over this young girls remains, throwing a shadow deeper into our futures than we can ever know. An unfathomable yawning chasm beckons the whole community but we are ignorant, illiterate baboons, having faith in our own humanity. We are all to blame for her death, even if our hands did not wield the killing blow we share the responsibility, we summoned the angel of death to her in our ignorance.
The Mother, Bronwen, so entrenched in her own sorrow she was not able see her step daughter standing before her pleading for an end to this dreadful pregnancy. Only wanting Eleri’s baby to replace the loss of her loving husband, something to hold on to, something to kiss and something to love.
The landlady, Anne Marie, so absorbed in her own future happiness with Johnno that she did not seem to care that he was the father of Eleri’s baby or the love of Eleri’s life. Eleri’s wretchedness unnoticed and discounted, immaterial compared to her own joy
The Landlord, Teddy, is wrapped up in his own barren dreams, he craves for the recognition he thinks he deserves. Self-centred and enthralled to his delusions of stardom and public adoration, he cannot appreciate his own wife’s discontentment and animosity towards her life here.
Mo, the wonderful healer, a cleanser of the spirit, a benevolent being who paid no attention to the unfortunate wretch that was Eleri. Beholding only the spirits of earth, air, fire and water those who advised her, those who whispered to Eleri about the succour the trees could offer and make her nightmares into daydreams.
Elliot, that wonderful and kind-hearted philanthropist whose desperate need for family had plunged him into the heartless pursuit of this child’s child. His vision of his own bright and blissful future belied the misery this young girl was living through. His own visions of his role as saviour to Eleri made him, by deed, the malevolent demon driving her on to more dangerous arrangements.
Alex the stone mason, regarded highly by many, an artist in his craft. He who was too busy to fix the unsteady stones on the steps that led to the top of the cliffs. His ignorant pride in his craft rendered him unable to comprehend his lack of action could be seen as inconsequentially dangerous.
Lou, poor Lou. My own flesh and blood, my brother in heart. Lou was the only one to appreciate the pain Eleri was in. His naivety in his attempts to help were simplistic and driven by an innocent heart. He knew she had planned to go to the trees that day, he wanted to accompany her, join her in this ineffectual endeavour to rid herself of the monster growing inside her. He rushed after her shouting for her to wait until he caught up. Eleri was already at the top of the steps when she heard Lou’s calls and turned to wave, indicating her desire for Lous company. On turning, the step, unrepaired by the stone mason, tipped and pitched Eleri off the top of the cliff, sending her tumbling into the rocks waiting below.
And me stupid arrogant Michael Aleyn Thomas, me. I was so wrapped up in the accumulation of wealth, miserly like a magpie guarding his nest, I rebuffed Eleri’s pleading when she, in this final humiliation, begged for money. She wanted to pay privately to end her pregnancy but I did not care, I did not even acknowledge her existence. She was nothing to me and her problems insignificant compared to mine. Callous yes, I am not human.
Here we all stood, like crows gathering to feast on the corpse. Feigning saintliness everyone, ignorant of the role we played in this tragedy, this catastrophe, this heartbreak. I could bear it no longer. I turned and left the congregation praying for the soul of this poor girl, when they should be pleading to god to purge their own demons. No one cared I had left, I believe no one even noticed. I made an oath on leaving this graveyard that I would change, I would be there for Lou, I would take him travelling, see the world with him. I would help my Aunt and Uncle with their failing Bed and Breakfast. I would be family. I can never expunge this cataclysm from my soul but I could be better.
At least Lou now knew how Grandad had died, bloody wobbly stone at the top of the steps leading to the cliff edge. Are we all to blame for his death as well.