The Elm

THE ELM

It was while I was sitting under my favourite elm tree on the old dirt track that ran past the old cemetery that I heard it for the first time.

A faint but familiar voice. It was so quiet as to be barely audible like a gentle whisper on the breeze…

“Daddy I love you”

I sat bolt upright listening. I knew it was just beyond dusk and the night was quiet and still. As I sat waiting I heard the voice still as faint as it was before…

“I miss you”

I sat there wondering. Was my mind playing tricks on me? Had my sanity finally left…

I stayed still under my elm immobile like a gargoyle perched on it’s haunches, waiting, watching, listening.

Then as before, like a whisper in the trees the sound of a small girl sobbing fading into the distance.

My heart sank as tears filled my soul.

“I know that voice”

My mind, my heart, and my soul began to race with despair.

“It could not be her!!!”

“How could it be?”

It had been at least a half year since that tragic night

I waited under my elm with its branches drooping, gently caressing with a slight summer breeze. As still as a marbled statue, as quiet as a scared mouse. Eyes wide and ears focused like a fox stalking prey. Waiting… Hoping for a sign… Any sign.

The sun started to rise and its warmth mingled with the tragedy I knew overwhelmed me as the world faded away.

Where my physical self wandered to that day is a complete mystery to me. As the day once more faded to the twilight of eve I found myself once more under my elm, so I sat and waited like an owl in the night.

I knew that night was drawing nearer and near. And I waited so still and quiet that if anyone were to pass they would think me apart of my beloved elm.

It was in this moment in a dreamlike state that my mind started to drift through memories of times gone by sitting under this elm with her. Watching dragonflies and butterflies performing the aerial displays just for us and no-one else. The cool wind that is natures breathe whispering to us through the leaves of the elm….

My elm…

No not my elm…

Our elm.

Then while stirring from the nether of a dream I heard her voice… My sweet little princess.

My Elizabeth…

“I miss you, Daddy”

“I have been missing you to my little princess” I spoke barely a whisper

Nothing but an unnatural silence.

Then as my heart began to sink once more.

“Daddy?” her voice exclaimed louder and clearer than the night before.

“Elizabeth!”

“My dearest little princess. My sweet Elizabeth” I wept trembling with excitement, astonishment and utter sorrow.

“Daddy I don’t have long. I have to go back”

“Let me walk with you along the way”

As I stood up I started to read the plaque on our elm..

“IN LOVING MEMORY”

I could not make out the rest of the words through the tears now flowing freely. As I started to focus, Elizabeth’s angelic voice spoke

“Come Daddy let us walk, we don’t have much time.”

We strolled hand in hand along the old dirt track and as we walked by the old cemetery Elizabeth stopped with tears in her eyes.

“There is no more time left Daddy, I have to go now”

“I will be here with you tomorrow night and every night after”

“I love you Daddy” she beamed as she kissed me on the cheek. I have never felt so warm and loved.

The next night we met again, and the night after that until my obsession blended nights into weeks. My poor lovely Elizabeth. Blinded to everything but our Elm at 7pm.

On the 30th night while we sat under our elm cuddling and watching the stars, the moonlight glinted on the bronze plaque on our Elm covered with leaves and dust. I decided that this special place under our Elm should be shared with all that were in need of comfort.

I kneeled down and cleared the plaque of leaves and decay and finally, I had the courage to read the plaque in full

IN LOVING MEMORY

DADDY

WHILE THE ELM STILL GROWS

AND THE COOL BREEZE BLOWS

WE WILL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER

I WILL LOVE YOU BEYOND

THE DRAGONFLIES AND STARS

YOUR PRINCESS FOREVER

ELIZABETH