Is that you I can see there sitting in the sunshine on the beach Hotel terrace with your friends, laughing and sipping your drink without a care in the world?

Is that you dressed in your cream summer jacket that I used to love you wearing.

Is that you?

Am I seeing someone who just happens to look like you? Same build, style of clothes, same smile and tilt of head when listening to the conversations around you.

Is that you?

I must admit I hadn't expected to see you again; it was rather a shock to say the least.

There is a hot, almost scarlet painful feeling that slinks up from my toes to the top of my head.

My heart is pounding and I feel suffocated for a moment.

You had said goodbye to me a while back, said you were moving on, it was time to go but obviously you must have changed your mind!

Is that you?

It has been so hard for me since you left, I have spent so many hours missing you and reliving all the memories of the years we had together.

It's never easy when it all comes to an end but you had made up your mind, chosen a sunny day in the spring and suddenly there was no longer any 'us' it was just me on my own, heartbroken, and you, well you look happy and seem to have found a new group of friends and are carrying on with it all.

Is that you?

Leaning across the table towards to that lady dressed so beautifully, she throws back her head and her laughter tinkles past me in the breeze, a perfumed delicate laugh that shows me you have truly moved on. I am glad you are happy.

I know I am staring and I know you haven't seen me.

I want to run over to you and throw my arms around you as I have missed you so much, but I know that would be so embarrassing for us all.

I have an idea, and without you even noticing I manage to take a photo of you sat there amongst the holidaymakers, now you are standing up and lifting your silk cap from the table as if about to leave.

As you stand time stops.

You are looking across the crowded terrace at me, our blue eyes are locked and the sun is so hot. The clouds have stopped floating, not a whisper from the crowd, the waves have frozen, the birds have stopped flying and everything is perfectly still.

Is that you walking away dad? You who left me in the spring when the daffodils were bright and summer was patiently waiting around the corner. Before you slipped away quietly in your sleep you had whispered goodbye and said that you had to go.

Is that you?

There is no photo no matter how hard I search, it's not there.

Is that you?

Please let it be you.

Jayne

A Moodscope member.