Lisa's Party

"The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window." Lisa was excited. The cabin had been in her family for a long, long time. It had always been in their family as a place to go for holidays, just get away from it all. It had been ages since Lisa had been up to the cabin. Infact, it had been ages since any of the family had been able to find the time to spend time there.

Lisa was excited because tomorrow the family was throwing a special party for her. As she lay in her dark room she could hear the sounds of people arriving, cars drawing up to the driveway and the gravel crunching as family members trudged up the long drive to the front porch.

'It's looking a little sad and tired', thought Aunty Maree as she got out of the car and looked up at the cabin. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to look at Neil. "It'll be ok love" he said to her, his hand squeezed her shoulder ever so slightly. Aunty Maree gave a tired smile, it had been a long drive. "Let's go in" she said.

Neil went to get the bags out of the car and together they walked up the gravel drive, their shoes crunching in the tiny, grey stones and then they walked up the five wooden steps and onto the front verandah.

Before they could ring the bell, the door opened and there stood Lillian with her bright eyes and blond hair highlighted by the candle light behind her. "You made it" she said with a smile. Hugging them both, she drew them into the hallway. "Leave your bags here", she said "we can move them down to your room later. Everyone is here and dinner is ready" as she spoke Lillian turned and headed towards the kitchen. Aunty Maree and Neil followed.

The cabin was lit with candles. Candles everywhere. Some scented, large and small. Candles lit up the hallway, living room and dining room. Aunty Maree went into the living room, "So many candles" she said noting that the single candle that had been placed in the front window was the one that had been first lit when Lisa was christened as a baby.

Lillian came and stood next to Aunty Maree, together in silence they looked at the christening candle. "Candlelight is always so lovely" Aunty Maree said placing her arm around Lillian. "Well, candles are Lisa's thing" Lillian said softly, "Come on let's go into the kitchen and join the others".

As they entered the kitchen, hello's, hugs and kisses were shared. "Gosh it's been a long time since we've seen you" said Norman, Lisa's dad. "Am so glad you could make it, so important for Lisa that her family are here with her". His hand rested on Neil's shoulder and Aunty Maree thought she saw a tear in his eye. "Happy to be here" she said smiling back at him.

Lisa could hear the voices, and the welcoming warmth that they exuded as the family members talked and laughed. She smiled to herself and rolled onto her side. Comfortable in her solitude she thought "I won't join them for dinner tonight. Plenty of time tomorrow" and she closed her eyes.

Aunty Maree sat down at the table in the dining room as Lillian brought in the roast beef. "I can remember when Lisa refused to be in the same house as cooked meat" the words tumbled out of her mouth. "Vegans, you know" said Lillian as she took her place at the table. Norman gently grasped Lillian's right hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Dinner looks great, Lil" and he stood up to carve the meat.

As Norman carved the meat, Lillian passed around plates of vegetables and bread. There was roast potatoes, honeyed carrots, minted peas, brown onion gravy and loads of mustard to go round. Together the family ate and drank and shared fond memories. "Remember the time we all went for the holiday to Italy, when Lisa was about ten and she got lost in the airport?"

"Oh yes" Lillian's brother Gary piped up, "took ages to find her. Do you remember that we found her in the food court having hot chocolate with the air hostess who found her?" he gave a short laugh. "Gosh, what a crack up that was".

Lillian gave a little, tired smile. "It's like it was yesterday" she uttered as if to herself. Lisa always had that knack of falling on her feet. So many adventures over the years, she travelled to so many places and had done a whole bunch of things that quite frankly had given Lillian many a sleepless night and perhaps some grey hairs but Lisa had always fallen on her feet.

They finished dinner. Plates and glasses were cleaned away, rinsed and stacked for washing. "Who wants a glass of port?" asked Gary as they made themselves comfortable in the living room. "I brought a bottle, thought we could all do with a decent port tonight" and he stood up and walked back to the kitchen and returned with the bottle of port and six crystal port glasses. "I took the liberty and assumed everyone would like some" he said as he set the glasses down on the coffee table. He poured a glass for everyone and passed them around "For you Maree" and "One for you Lillian" and "Here you go Norman" and "For you Stella, my darling". When everyone had a glass Gary moved to the middle of the living room and raised his glass. "I'd like to propose a toast............ to Lisa". They all stood and raised their glasses, "To Lisa". They all took a sip of port and sat down again.

After a few minutes, Norman said, "It's going to be an early start tomorrow so we reckon everyone should be up by no later than 8.00 and ready by 9.30am. It will be a long day but it's Lisa's day and her party so maybe we should all chuff off to bed after this and get a good night's rest".

Lisa rolled over and listened to the sound of the birds chirping in the trees. "Morning" she said as she stretched herself out. Pointing her toes and raising her arms over her head, she gave a little wriggle and made a mental note to have word with her Dad about upgrading the beds at the cabin. "Bit small and uncomfy mattresses".

She opened her eyes. It was still dark, very dark. "Gee, I must be up super early today" and she rolled over to wait for the sun to rise. She could hear the birds fluttering in the trees outside the window and the muffled sounds of their happy chirping as they went about their early morning business. It was still very dark "Is the power out?"

After a short while she could hear voices, the sounds of people walking into the room and then the slight grating sound of wood on wood and then light, bright, bright light............. so bright after the darkness that it made Lisa's eyes blink and water. Her mother's face came into view, haloed by the bright light. "My beautiful girl" Lillian gently touched Lisa's face.

"Morning Mum" Lisa replied but her mother didn't seem to hear her.

Lillian stood looking down at the coffin, her hand resting lightly on Lisa's face. "My beautiful girl" she repeated and then turned to walk away. "Mum?" Lisa called out 'Mum, what are you doing. Come back" and she tried to rise and follow Lillian but was somehow held back.

Lisa lay where she was. She was conscious of her thoughts and movement. "Some kind of joke" she thought. She moved within herself and felt a restriction to her movement. "Seriously........."

Her Dad was making a speech. The family gathered around and she heard him clearly say "The undertakers will be here soon so perhaps now, well you might want to say goodbye to Lisa". "Wait, what............ did I hear that right....undertakers? I'm not dead. What......................?" and she squirmed around.

One by one the family came to Lisa. They looked into her face and said their goodbyes but none of them saw past the facade of death. Underneath the mask she lay stricken and ever fearful, a cold terror building inside her minute by passing minute. As the power of her terror grew she fought. She reached out her arms and made fists to punch away the haze that seemed to hover between her and her family. Tears welled in her eyes. "I am not dead" she screamed as Gary bent over her and kissed her cold cheek.

Norman came into view, tears in his eyes. He touched her hand that was gently folded onto her chest. "Dad? Dad, she called out "What are you doing"? "Answer me......... Dad" he dabbed at his eyes with a handkerchief and moved away............ "Dad................" her voice trailed after him.

Now she was angry. "How can they do this to me?" She squirmed and rolled within the confines of her dead body as the coldness around her grew. And then, she found a window and pressed her face up against it' s panes and screamed into it 'I am not dead!". Aunty Maree thought she saw something. A tiny glint of a shadow of a movement that she witnessed within Lisa's left eye. She drew back, her hand to her heart, "Oh my" she gasped. She drew back, her heart pounding, "What did I just see?". Turning away she staggered slightly, enough for Neil to ask if she was okay.

Aunty Maree looked into Neil's face. "I saw something" she whispered. "I saw something move inside her". Neil smiled tenderly "It's ok love. She's gone. Maybe you are remembering her as she was". Aunty Maree looked at Neil's trusting face and she calmed her nerves " Yes, you're right. It's just me, hoping and wanting for her to still be with us" she took a tissue from her pocket and nervously dabbed her forehead.

The clock ticked around to 9.25am. "They'll be here soon" Norman announced, "we better all get ready to go". The family all went off to get their handbags, jackets, hats, tissues and whatever else they needed for the next stage of the journey.

"I just need to say another farewell" Aunty Maree held Neil's hand tight. "Lillian is too tired and Norman, well he's looking after Lil. I just need to see her one more time............ something isn't right". Neil looked at his wife with concern. "What do you mean something isn't right? Lisa died. People die Maree" he clasped his hands around hers. "Well darling, I know that. I just want to say a final farewell. I was too upset last time" Aunty Maree smiled up at Neil and she turned and walked back towards the coffin.

Aunty Maree looked down at Lisa. "She was such a pretty girl" she thought. "So much fun and far too young to pass". With this thought in mind, Aunty Maree touched Lisa's shoulder, she bent down to give her one last kiss "Place pennies on their eyes for Charion" went through her mind and she hesitated, she looked into Lisa's dead eyes and she saw a movement, a shimmer, a small light and then she saw Lisa looking at her. Lisa's mouth opened and formed the silent words........... "Help me!"

Aunty Maree stood back 'Oh my god", she trembled. "She's alive. Alive!" The funeral service had arrived. The hearse was parked in the driveway. Family members were getting into their cars to depart. 'Oh my god" Aunty Maree ran to Neil "She's not dead, Neil" the words rushing out of her. "She's not dead. She's alive". Neil looked at Aunty Maree, tears streaming down her face, her hands clenched. He held her close. "Let her go Maree. Lisa died. Just let her go for Lillian and Norman's sake. Don't make a scene".

The journey to the cemetery felt like a life time to Aunty Maree. "It's ok" Neil comforted her, "it's a difficult time". Inside the coffin Lisa wrestled with the death that was her own. She tried to rip her way out, tear her way out of her body.......... she screamed.. "I am not dead......... Don't leave me here".

As they lowered the coffin into the ground, Lisa could hear the sounds of sobbing. As they walked away, Lisa could hear the sounds of their footsteps leaving. As they filled the grave, Lisa could hear the sound of soil falling onto the lid of the coffin. Then it was all silent.

She waited in the stillness, listening for the slightest noise or movement that would indicate her family had realised their mistake and returned for her. Lisa moved around in her dead body. She stretched her toes and raised her arms above her head.

She felt strangely calm. "I'll wait for them.............".