Imagine There's No Heaven

by paul harrison

Gina slowed the car half regrettably, half hopefully as they entered the veterans centre car park. She had fought so hard for Guy. He didn’t know how much she had sacrificed for him. She prayed with all her heart that he would hear whatever it was he needed to hear to bring closure, to allow him to move on with his life. Hopefully he would move on with a positive sense of his mother. He had been fingering his dog tags for the entire drive. She hoped that by morning they would hold less a sense of loss and more a sense of promise.

  Flags adorned the walls of the hall as they entered, together with photos of soldiers, medals, newspaper cuttings and more; the entire room was like a museum of national pride, and in a distant hall, a group of old men were huddled around an antiquated television set watching the news.

  A middle-aged lady was standing at the reception desk. Gina rushed over.

  ‘Excuse me,’ she said in a hurry. ‘I’m looking for Adam Daniels. Apparently he is here tonight.’

  The receptionist nodded. ‘Oh, Adam, yes, yes, he’s often here; he helps set up for our guest speakers.’ She turned to her computer and started searching through the database. ‘Oh, yes, he’s here right now. Let me see if I can find him for you.’ She stood and strode purposefully over to the hallway at the end.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Gina asked, turning to Guy. He was leant over the reception desk with his head in his hands. He nodded. ‘Do you need anything?’ He shook his head. Gina gave him space. He took a few deep breaths to compose himself. ‘Are you ready to do this, Guy?’

  ‘Yes,’ he answered determinedly, ‘I’m ready.’

  ‘You know there is no guarantee that this man knew your mother?’ Gina cautioned. ‘He may have been the one she was looking for, but that doesn’t—’

  ‘He knows. I know he does. I can feel it.’ Guy was nodding his head repeatedly and bobbing up and down on his feet in anxiety.

  ‘I hope you are right,’ said Gina. She rubbed his back in support. ‘Just try not to be too hurt if—’ she fell silent as the receptionist returned. Following her was a tall thin man wearing one of the friendliest smiles Guy had ever seen. His receded grey hair and weathered skin spoke of a life well lived. He offered his hand to Guy. ‘Adam Daniels.’

  ‘Hi,’ Guy muttered in a fluster. ‘I’m Guy Cormun.’

  Daniel’s looked Guy up and down as though he were evaluating him. ‘Imogen’s boy?’ he asked.

  Guy slumped over, clutching at his chest. Gina wrapped her arm about his shoulder. Daniel’s looked away shyly, not quite sure what to do to help. ‘Let’s go somewhere quieter,’ he offered. Gina nodded and held Guy’s hand as they followed Daniels through the home.