Anna married late, at twenty-five. Her husband wasnt exactly a total dud, but he wasnt the sort to make her friends green with envy either. Did she love him? Even Anna wasnt sure. Shed grown used to him. They had a son, Timmybright, seriouswhat more could she want? Not that she dared want much. Shed resigned herself to the fact that her Geoff was dull as dishwater. And tight-fisted to boot. Anna stopped noticing it after a while. She worked at the local primary school, ran after-school clubs, looked after her boythat was her life. And yet, shed been a proper stunner in her day, turning heads left and right! Fair-haired, her waves framing delicate features, a figure to die foran absolute gem. The sort who shouldve bagged herself a prince.
Her family never took to Geoff, snickering behind his back. He never quite fit inbarely spoke at gatherings, missed every joke, and was forever tugging Annas sleeve: *”Its late, lets go! Early start tomorrow!”* Soon, they stopped getting invites altogether. They lived like they were on the outskirts of everything.
Old age crept up, grey and joyless. What had Anna seen of life? Precisely nothing. Their holidays were spent at Geoffs factorys dreary staff retreatthree meals a day and an evening disco they never attended. *”Whats the point?”* Geoff would say. *”Thats for folks hunting a bit on the side. Not us, eh, love?”* Anna would nod obediently.
Fancy shops were off-limits too. *”Too dear!”* Geoff insisted. *”Theres decent stuff at the marketTurkish imports, half the price!”* Anna sighed but never argued.
Then disaster struck. Geoffs memory began slipping. Not even that old, looking better than his younger selfand yet, there it was. The doctors verdict: early dementia after a series of mini-strokes. Soon, he barely recognised their son or grandkids. *”Who are these children?”* hed ask.
*”Geoff, sweetheart,”* Anna would murmur, as if to a toddler, *”thats Danny and Alfie, our grandsons. And the tall one? Thats Tim, our boy.”*
*”Why am I only hearing this now? Did they just arrive?”* Geoff would blink. Five minutes later, hed ask again.
But he always knew *her*. Hard not to, when she tended to him like a nanny. Without Anna, hed have wandered out in his pyjamas. Now, with the purse strings finally hers, youd think shed splash outbut the urge had vanished. Not from thrift. Shed just forgotten how. She breezed past boutiques without a glance, yet spoiled Geoff with posh treats. He trailed her like a lost lamb, begging her not to linger at the shops. *”Dont leave me,”* hed plead, terrified shed abandon him. Once, he even whispered, *”I love you. Youre my whole world. Id be lost without you.”*
Words shed never heard in fifty years. They say every cloud has a silver liningbut what use was silver now? Anna would lock herself in the loo, have a quiet sob, then wipe her eyes and soldier on.
This tale came from my neighboura striking woman, trim and bright-eyed despite her years. Not a hint of self-pity on her face. Shyly, she added, *”I wrote Geoff a little poem. Fancy a listen?”*
*”My faithful friend, youre by my side,
Though times unkind, youre still my guide.
Forgot the year? No matter, dear
Just hold my hand, and Ill stay near.”*
I hugged Anna tight and silently wished her strengthand patienceby the bucketload.
