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Back Walking on Sunshine Save as PDF
Chapters (46)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. By the same author
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. Three Months Later
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. Epilogue – Five Years Later
  44. Acknowledgements
  45. An extra note from me …
  46. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

‘You always were the sparkle in my life. From the moment we met you just shone brighter than anything else I’d known before. You weren’t a saint, although these two would like to say you were, I know how much that would annoy you,’ I say, causing Zaza and Vicky to tut in agreement. ‘I know the times you struggled, the times you got frustrated, the times your temper would flash – usually because I’d tested your patience. And not just because of cancer, because of life. Life happens and we all have to use the tools we possess to get through. Meeting you gave me a whole new set of tools. I wouldn’t be who I am today were it not for meeting you when I did. It’s something I’ll be forever grateful for.’

I lift the final clip of the box and remove the lid. The thought of what I’m about to do hits and sends a chill through me. I hold the container out and start shaking it gently, allowing the wind around us to start gliding over Pia’s ashes and carry her away.

‘I love you, Pia,’ I call after her, my heart feeling a little lighter seeing her reunited with the world, wanting to imagine her walking on sunshine for the rest of time.

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28

Zaza

The morning has been a heavy one, yet somehow I feel lighter as a result, as though I’m starting to unload a weight that’s been with me for a while. I’m still unpacking the thoughts and making sense of them, but a hope has started to appear. That’s more than I can say for the weather, however, which is looking less than hopeful. Just like yesterday the sunny spells have passed along with the blue skies, and instead a miserable drizzle has set in around us as we’ve been descending through the valleys that were waiting for us on the other side of this morning’s steep climb. Walking-wise it’s been a lot more enjoyable, with the arrival of tall trees giving us something different to look at as we take in the view, along with rivers that we have to carefully cross and be sure we don’t fall into. Apparently slipping in and ending up with a soggy boot really will add a hellish element to the trip.

Our ponchos are out. Not only do their bright colours make us look like we’re in a Uniqlo advert, we also rustle as we walk. With our hoods up over our heads we can hardly hear each other, and so the walk is mostly silent, which after the events that’ve happened today might not be a bad thing. We all need some thinking time.