The Ghost Of Time

Chapter 8 - "He's just like you"

Lizzie was working up to what she needed to say, searching the rippling currents in the river for the right words, the breeze billowing through the leaves of the trees and Kit's fur as she ran alongside them. Lizzie took her time before she spoke again, "I asked if you wanted to meet up because I wanted to talk about the show, about us..." She trailed off, she didn't have a strong enough grip on her words and they were snatched away on the breeze. Mat sensed her struggle and asked gently, "do you want to sit down? There's a bench not far ahead."

"Yeah, give me time to find the words, I told you I was no good at this."

"It's harder than it seems to talk honestly, that's what I'm learning from today," Mat reassured her, "I didn't realise how difficult it is to be really honest. It feels like keeping things from people - from yourself -is easier than dealing with problems, getting on with life in silence. But it's not healthy, I know that now. I feel better already being out in the fresh air, in this beautiful place. There's something about nature and this freedom that puts things into perspective, brings things into focus, things that seem important in the confines of the city fade away to background noise here."

They left the path when it split into two, to the left there was a gap in the trees where a bench overlooking the river had been placed, to make the most of the view. Mat whistled to keep Kit close as Lizzie stood in front of the bench and quietly read out the inscription on the plaque. "He lived, laughed, loved, and left," that's a beautiful memorial- and what a great legacy to have, a bench here - overlooking the river, for everyone to enjoy."

Mat affirmed, "I'd like that," Lizzie looked around, taking in the open space behind the bench, leading to a row of cottages. The tunnel of trees they had emerged from to the right - and to the left, the path snaking into the tall wildflowers, she was unsure. "Is there somewhere else we can sit? It feels very exposed here."

"Yeah, there's plenty of places further up, we've hardly started the walk yet, you've not seen any of the best bits, this has been the tame, civilised part so far."

Lizzie's face lit up with an uncomplicated happiness, the result of being outdoors on a fine day, fresh air and river spray in the air, the prospect of an adventure. "Come on then, show me the wild side of this place." Mat grinned, sharing her happiness as he re-joined the path and headed towards the bank of wildflowers, ensuring Kit was still close. They followed the path winding between the grass that reached waist height, Kitty now staying near them, not keen on the grass taller than she was. They approached another fork in the path before long, Kit started down the right trail that led along the side of a farmer's field but Mat whistled for her to return and they took the left path, this route much more overgrown and hugging the riverbank.

This route was a desire path, a thin strip of well-trodden dirt, with the precariously close steep bank of the river to the left and a more manageable slope up to the edge of a field to the right. They were forced to walk in single file, edging around muddy patches and stepping carefully over rocks that had been exposed in the trail over many years, by adventuring footfalls and erosion. Lizzie followed Kitty, the most sure-footed and fastest of the trio, with Mat trailing behind. Lizzie kept her vision fixed on the river, as much as the uneven surface of the path would allow. The afternoon sun gleaming on the water, illuminating individual ripples through the sparse trees clinging onto the riverbank. Lizzie stopped suddenly, her attention dragged away from the river by the obstacle in the path. Mat had been watching Lizzie instead of the river and so had avoided a collision, "what's up?" he leaned to the side, as much as he felt safe to do so, to see why Lizzie had stopped.