Have you Enjoyed your Life?

Hana stomped up the wooden steps leading to her Nanna's house. She was really not in the best of moods, but then she hardly ever was lately. She didn't understand why it was her job to call in every day on the way home from school and make sure Nanna was still bloody well breathing when she could be doing something fun with her friends. Although, after her little outburst today, she was wondering if she would still have any friends left. Nope, Hana wasn't going to feel guilty. Chloe had deliberately made a play for Noah, although she knew how much Hana liked him. She had flicked her long blonde hair, batted her big blue eyes and reeled him in. Hana had lost her shit. Not good. Not good at all.

Reaching the door, she kicked off her shoes, dumped her school bag and called out as she pushed the screen door open. It was unlocked as always, despite the constant reminders for Nanna to keep it locked. You never knew who was prowling around the neighbourhood, especially in these times, when so many people had so little. "Nanna, it's me, Han." There was no answer and Hana's heart skipped a beat. "What if? No, don't even go there." But it was going to happen one day wasn't it? As the sickly sweet smell of disease reached Hana's nostrils, she suspected that day wasn't too far away.

Ten minutes later, Hana sat beside Elphie, her Nanna, and looked at her twisted hand gripping the delicate handle of the tea cup. Elphie was barely an outline underneath the cosy blanket as she huddled into the ancient chair that had been in the same place for as long as Hana could remember. Her resentment at having to visit every day dissipated, replaced by love and concern. Hana put her tea down on the doily covered table and laid her hand on Elphie's tiny arm. "Elphie, can I ask you something?" Elphie looked at her, her blue eyes still holding the spark of a long life well lived. "Of course, my darling," she replied, her voice still melodious, at odds with her shrunken frame.

Hana took a breath. "Have you enjoyed your life?"

Elphie smiled and the years melted away. "Oh yes, it has been a life well lived. A full life. I have seen much of the world, lived through wars and famine. I have loved recklessly and entirely, consumed by passion. I have danced, tasted power, explored the margins of society. I have raised children, had the good fortune to welcome grandchildren and great-grandchildren like you into the world. I experienced the beauty of nature before we humans destroyed so much of its beauty. Mother nature is resilient, but I fear that now, like me, she is tired and needs to sleep."

Hana curled into Elphie on the large, squishy chair. "If you could do one thing before you leave this earth, what would it be?"

"Oh that's easy," Elphie said, stroking Hana's hair. "I would dance under the stars at midnight to the melody that fills my heart with love. In the morning, they will find me under the old oak tree, but it won't be me. It will just be this body. My soul will still be dancing, my melody mixing with all the songs of the people and animals I have loved and lost in my 102 years of life. If you sit under the tree after I am gone, you will hear the orchestra of my soul and eventually, but not for a very, very long time, your signature tune will join the band."