A Vintage Friendship

‘Any idea where she might be?’ she asked after I’d told her about my floating into a sea of light and wanting to talk to Mitch about it.

‘Not a clue. I’d love to talk to her about my near-death experience.’ Like my family, I could tell that Sara wasn’t convinced that what I’d been through was anything other than due to medication.

‘Yes, I wonder if she’s still into all that “peace and love” stuff.’

‘Me too. I feel bad I dismissed it at the time. She must have been frustrated that none of us were that interested. I certainly know how she feels now.’

‘Oh Jo, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to dismiss what happened to you, just it sounds …’

‘I know, bonkers. You can say it. So, let me think. Mitch was in London for a while, we knew that; then Devon, I seem to remember. It was so long ago, it’s all a bit of a blur. I was too busy trying to survive as a new wife and mother to think about seeing the light and saving the world like she was.’

‘Anyone you can think of who might know where she is?’

‘Not that comes to mind, but there’s bound to be someone back in Manchester you could ask. I saw her when I did the flash review of my life while I was having the heart attack, and she’s been on my mind a lot. Strange that we’re both thinking about her after so long. Do you think we were bad friends? Should have made more of an effort to stay in touch?’

‘That’s what I’ve been asking myself. Maybe, maybe not. Works both ways. She didn’t exactly try to stay in touch with us either, once she knew we weren’t going to join her way of life.’

‘Fair point. Shame though.’

‘And … I’ve been as bad as her at not staying in touch with my real friends, not lately that is.’

‘Well, you’ve had a lot going on. But you’re in touch now, Sara, and that’s what counts.’

‘You and I could meet up if you like.’

‘I’d love to, but I’m not exactly ready for house guests just yet.’

‘I wouldn’t stay long. I have something I’d like to run by you.’

‘Sure. Shoot.’

‘Er … not now. Not on the phone, it’s sort of about Mitch as well.’

‘Intriguing.’

‘I’ll see if Ally’d like to come too. This period post-funeral must be hard for her – so quiet now that everyone will have gone. The house will feel empty. She might like a change of scenery. What do you say?’

‘I say great.’ I’d stayed in touch with Ally more than Sara had in recent years. I had a lot of respect for Ally. She was the thoughtful one of our group, quieter and less inclined to blurt out all her feelings the way the rest of us did sometimes, but there was a lot going on behind her grey, intelligent eyes, and when she did let some of it out, I always wanted to hear what she had to say. I also knew she had great affection for our old gang. We brought her out of herself and made her laugh with all our teenage dramas and declarations of love or loyalty. If it hadn’t been for the heart attack, I’d have been up there cooking her hearty chicken soups and making sure she was looked after.

So. Size eight Sara wants to be back in my life. In the past few years when we’d meet up, I always felt like a large lump of whale meat next to her ‘not an ounce of fat’ frame, but curiously, since meeting my astral pal and experiencing the sea of light, none of that seemed to matter any more. I’d spent my whole life criticizing myself and my body, hating the way I looked. Such a waste. I wanted weight loss for health reasons and curiously, now I wasn’t so down on myself, the pounds were melting off. Plus, there was something else. Whilst lying in my hospital bed, I’d realized I’d spent the majority of my time looking after everyone else – family, friends, animals, waifs and strays – and look where it had got me. Heart attack hotel. My health had suffered. It was time to look after me for a change, and to have some fun whilst doing so. Sara had always been excellent company. It would be good to see her and renew our friendship.

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