A Feast of Memories

It was, as someone's Nan might've said, "a lovely spread".

The wooden table groaned under the weight of it, dominating the cramped space. A lamp swung above, casting a soft glow and odd shadows on the walls of the caravan.

The bread was warm to touch. There were cakes topped with chocolate, or fruit and fresh cream. Platters of beef, chicken and a glazed ham, studded with cloves. Chutney, pies, cheeses, a slab of butter.

His mouth watered. He knew the rules, everyone did. Don't eat their food or drink their drink. Not even a sip. If you do, you can't leave.

The dusty-suited old man gestured for him to sit. "Tea? Beer? Something stronger?"

Am I really going to do this? He cleared his throat. "A beer, if you don't mind."

The old man nodded, all amicable, and gestured for him to help himself. He was suddenly hungrier than he'd ever been in his life.

A grape hung tantalisingly off the fruit bowl, jewels of condensation standing out on its taut skin like teardrops. He just knew how it would taste, how fresh and sweet. Reaching for it, almost furtive, he bit into it before his courage failed.

There she was! The shock of it, when for a lifetime her picture had been of a stranger. Now, in this second, she was more familiar to him than his own face.

She leaned forward until she was down to his level, and cupped his cheek with a hand that was surely made of silk. Her eyes sparkled. The tear just spilling down his cheek was caught on her thumb and wiped away. The wind tousled her hair, blew a few strands across her face, tugged at her dress.

"You'll be okay," she said, and her voice was the loveliest sound he'd ever heard.

Beer untouched, plate empty, he bathed in the memory for precious seconds. Tried to hold on to it, stop it fading... but it was useless.

"Won't you try another, young sir?" the old man asked.

Young! I'm sixty-two!

"No," he croaked. "That one. Definitely. Please. Give it back."

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Word count (excluding note): 366

Submitted on 4th March at 23:10

This one follows on from the ones I did over the last couple of days, but they should all work as stand alone stories as well.

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*Quick Author's Note*

First, and most importantly: thank you for reading!

Leave me a link to your own latest story, if I haven't already seen it!

If you enjoyed this story, the best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another.

Pay no attention to the writer behind the curtain: Yes, I was linking of Pan's Labyrinth when I wrote that grape.

A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one makes a 64 day streak. You can find all of them in my Index post.

Thank you

Thank you again! I do my best to reciprocate all reads.