Dust

by Angela Nock

  'Hello Azra,' said the old woman, marking her place in her book before shutting it. She looked up at me, 'it's been a long time.'

  'Evie,' I said, with a smile, 'it's good to see you again.'

  'So it's time?'

  I nodded.

  'Ah, I guess I won't be finishing this,' she said, placing her book on the small wooden table next to her, 'Oh well, it wasn't a great read anyway. Although, maybe I should've had that cupcake.'

  A man's voice called my name; 'Azra?'

  'Solomon,' I said, with a nod of my head. I hadn't seen him approach.

  Solomon came to rest behind Evie. He placed his hand on her shoulder. She reached up and put her hand over his.

  'Is it time?' he asked.

  'Yes.' I watched as he squeezed her shoulder tenderly.

  He gave a loud sigh. 'Well, we knew this day would come.'

  Evie reached up to Solomon's hand and stroked it.

  'Azra, can you give me a minute, please? I would like to say goodbye to my…' But she couldn't finish the sentence.

  I nodded. 'I will wait here.'

  Evie stood up and with slow, shaky steps, she disappeared into the house.

  'Be gentle with her,' said Solomon.

  'Of course.'

  After a few minutes she reappeared. Slowly she made her way to me.

  'Okay, I'm ready.' Her voice didn't betray her nervousness. She reached up and flung her arms around Solomon. They embraced. I looked away. I didn't want to intrude on their grief. I owed her that much at least. They pulled apart. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.

  'Go on now Solomon, go inside, you don't need to see this. Be with the children. They're the ones that need you now.'

  He lifted her hand and placed a single kiss on it. 'I'll see you again,' he said, wiping a tear away from his eye.

  'Not in my lifetime,' she said, with a wistful smile, 'now go before you make me cry.'

  He nodded, kissed her hand again, then turned and left.

  'Solomon? How did that happen?' I asked her as he disappeared into the house.

  She shrugged. 'Once I felt…not over Josh's death, but -'

  'An acceptance?'

  'Yes. Once I'd grieved for him, I decided I needed to do something. I found details in the house of Obadiah's son, Solomon. I went looking for him.' She looked to the back of the house. 'I wanted to tell him about his father, Obadiah, and about this place. In the end, he found me. The rest is history.'

  'What about…'

  'Josh? Solomon knows everything. What was I supposed to do? Be alone for the rest of my life? I didn't plan any of it.'

  'I didn't mean…'

  'I know, sorry,' she said. 'This…it's harder than I thought it would be.'

  'Dying? That's the easy part.'

  'No. I'm not scared about that. Not when my friend is here to take me.' She looked up at me with a wistful smile.

  'So what?'

  'I'm torn. It's hard, leaving Solomon, the kids, but I can't deny that my heart sings at the thought of meeting Josh again.'

  'But you know that after I take you and you're reborn that you won't remember a thing about this life, don't you?'

  She nodded. 'But I know we will meet again, and yet…' her voice trailed off and she looked back at the house. 'It's harder for Solomon. He will continue to live, without me, without love.'

  'Maybe, maybe not. Angels have an eternity to get over these things.' I smiled at her, tried to reassure her. 'He will love again, Evie, it will just take time.'

  'Shall we?' she asked.

  'Are you sure you're ready?'

  'Yes.'

  'This won't hurt.'

  'I know,' she said with a smile.

  I flung my arms around her and let my darkness take her. 'Bye, Evie. I'll see you in the next life.'

  ###

  Thank you for taking the time to read Dust, Book Three of the Bones, Ashes and Dust Trilogy.

  If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review at your retailer? I would very much appreciate it.

  Thanks, Angela.

  About the Author

  When I'm not writing, I can be found reading, painting, or playing Zelda. I love Zelda.

  If I were a film, I'd like to be one that has Christoph Waltz in it, or Al Pacino. Either would make me happy.

  If I were a Boxset, I'd want it to be The Sopranos. Or Game of Thrones. Or Sons of Anarchy.

  I love walking in the rain, especially if I've got nowhere to go.

  Winter's my favourite time of year, it fits me, unlike summer when everyone thinks you should be happy. Happiness doesn't just appear because the suns out, life doesn't work like that.

  I love reading. Harry Potter, Twilight, Memoirs of a Geisha, and the Da Vinci Code are all in my top ten. I've also just discovered Robert Galbraith (A.K.A. J. K. Rowling) and Jo Nesbo (Author of the Harry Hole novels). Don't make me choose one. That would be like asking me to choose between my children. It just wouldn't happen.

  I live in Walsall, West Midlands, with my two kids, my hubby and my Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

  Also by Angela Nock:

  Bones, Book One, Bones, Ashes and Dust Trilogy

  Ashes, Book Two, Bones, Ashes and Dust Trilogy

  Dragon Rider - A Dark Dystopian Adventure

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