Free A World Apart by Loui Downing

the vehicle for return to her home. The sky was a tinge of orange with a murky white that suggested more snow was to come. The roads were slushy Cindy noticed through the steamed front windscreen of her car, reaching for the heater whilst she waited for the hot air to clear the condensation before she set off. She turned the key a second time and the car started, the bonnet lifting a tad as the engine trundled happily. The cold conditions made the car let out a cough and a wheeze to clear its throat. The only area of road that was visible to Cindy was the tyre marks of both left and right wheels, along with the rest of the road being covered with sloppy ice that was once freshly formed snow. The drive lasted a lifetime for Cindy, or maybe it was her hunger to reach home as quickly as possible. An increasing amount of adrenaline pumping around here veins contrasted with the feeling of despair to curl up into a ball. Lines after lines, Cindy’s eyes drifting asleep as she tried to stay awake. A sign for her village appeared, reassuring her that it would not be long before she would be comforted in the firm arms of George.
     
        The glad but worried smile on Cindy’s face beamed; she was delighted to see George and Henry at the door awaiting her return. As she pulled up on the drive, the headlights were melting the light snow that had just recently formed on the garage doors. Her husband and father stood blowing hot air from their mouths into their hands trying to keep warm. She switched the engine off inside. She had barely reached the edge of her car when she was greeted by the presence of George and Henry.
    ‘Hi, are you ok honey?’ said Henry hugging her at the very moment George was about to hug her, he gave a glance at Henry before moving swiftly on and remarking ‘We were so worried about you, thought you may have been stranded’ said George wishing to reap the limelight as he felt scared and a sense of bewilderment on what exactly to do in these situations. Cindy glanced in George’s direction; her head slanted childlike on Henry’s shoulders.
    ‘Come inside and we’ll get you warmed up, you must be exhausted’ added George after receiving no response from Cindy. The three walked briskly towards the dark muddy door with a surprisingly broad brass letterbox.
     
    Henry rushed around the kitchen in search for apparatus, showing his lack of experience in the kitchen. Henry walks into the lounge where Cindy and George where Cindy lay on the settee with George; leaning on the armrest which comforted her.
     
     
        Cindy spent the next twelve minutes describing what she had encountered at the hospital earlier that night. George and Henry asking minor questions throughout, Cindy skipping a few of them as she could barely remember anything but her mother and the note that rustled gently in her cardigan pocket. Cindy gradually told Henry that she saw Mavis pass away he broke down. She rose quickly to comfort him, feeling disappointed in herself as if she could have prevented it. All three were in a terrible state of disbelief, both in what Cindy had saw happening in the hospital, refusing to accept the death of Mavis. Henry started to pace the lounge next to the disused fireplace, thinking of what he could do to change things. Everything went quiet as Cindy realised the note was still in her pocket untouched and unspoken. She pondered for a while, unaware about how long she was taking. She was looking at every possible eventuality, taking into account what she said and the look in her mother’s eyes. Cindy decided to keep quiet, as it was probably all random surges in the brain that maybe caused her to remember a particular nice memory thought Cindy. She headed for bed, escorting Henry his way around to the bathroom; handing him some pillows and a blanket for his night on the sofa downstairs.
     
        Cindy woke with a great burning sense of regret about not helping her mother, not getting there sooner