The taxi pulled up beside the iron gates of the cemetery. A young man stepped out and walked over to the flower stall, where a woman was arranging bouquets.
“Twelve tulips, please,” he said.
He paid in pounds, bowed his head slightly, and made his way inside.
A year ago, Daniel had considered himself the luckiest man alivedeeply in love and loved in return. Everything changed in an instant when his fiancée, Emily, didnt survive a car accident.
It took him a month just to function again. His colleagues at work had been the ones to drag him back into the world of the living.
Now, by the gravestone, Emilys mother sat on a bench.
“Hello, Aunt Margaret,” Daniel said softly.
“Good afternoon, Daniel,” she replied, rising to hug him tightly, her face buried in his chest as she wept.
He stared at the headstone, where Emilys smiling photo was etched in stone.
Once shed composed herself, Margaret helped him arrange the flowers properly. They stood in silence for a long moment before she asked,
“Still not married, then?”
“No. I cant forget your daughter. Its like her heart is calling out to me.”
Margaret nodded, lowering her head in sorrow. The day of the accident was a blurthe hospital, her daughter lying still on a white sheet, the man and woman kneeling beside her in despair.
She turned to Daniel, opened her mouth to speak, but seeing the grief in his eyes, she stayed quiet.
Daniel had graduated from the police academy and worked in the force for two years, recently promoted to detective sergeant. He still lived with his parents.
The tragedy had shattered the steady rhythm of their lives. For a year, their son had been a ghost in his own home, locking himself in his room whenever he wasnt at work. Now, on this quiet Saturday, he returned home with the same heaviness in his step.
“Daniel, dinners ready,” his mother called from the hallway.
He nodded, washed his hands in the bathroom, and sat at the table. His mother wasted no time.
“Your father and I visited your grandparents graves today” She trailed off when she saw the shadow cross his face.
“I went to Emilys grave too.”
“Sweetheart, its been a year. Emilys gone, but you have to keep living.”
“I cant, Mum. Its like shes pulling me toward her.”
“Daniel, dont say things like that!” His mother paled.
“Its fine. I know you and Dad want me to move on, but not yet.”
He finished his meal and retreated to his room.
Being a detective meant long hours, sometimes through the night. Daniel lay down and fell asleep almost instantly.
He dreamed of Emily calling to himsomething that happened often. But this time, it was different. It felt urgent, like she was in trouble and needed his help.
He woke with a start and rushed to the front door.
“Daniel, whats wrong?”
“Just going for a walk, Mum.”
Outside, his feet carried him without thinking. He found himself in the park, deep among the trees, where three drunk lads had cornered a frightened girl.
“Whats going on here?” Daniel demanded, stepping forward.
The girls terrified eyes locked onto his, pleading silently.
“Mind your own business, mate,” one of the lads growled, swinging at himonly to end up flat on his back a second later.
“Take your friend and clear off,” Daniel ordered the other two.
They didnt argue, hauling their mate up and scurrying away.
The girl stood frozen, clutching her chest, then fumbled in her pocket for a small pill and placed it under her tongue. Tears welled in her eyes.
“Its alright,” Daniel said gently, resting a hand on her shoulder.
“Th-thank you,” she stammered.
“Let me walk you home.”
As they walked, she calmed slightly, and he asked,
“Whats your name?”
“Claire.”
“Daniel. What happened back there?”
“II take walks here for my health. The doctors said I should. Those lads just jumped out at me.”
“Got it. Something wrong with your heart?”
“Born with it. Last year, it nearly gave out. Had surgery. Doctors say Ill be fine now.”
Daniel listened, and for the first time in a year, his own heart felt strangely lightas if Emily were somehow walking beside him.
They reached a modern apartment block.
“This is me,” Claire said, giving him a hesitant smile.
“Glad we met,” he replied.
“Daniel, come inside. Ill introduce you to my mum.”
“Would that be alright?” He couldnt hide his smile.
“Of course!”
The flat was elegant, tastefully furnished. A woman stepped out of the living room, blinking in surprise at her daughters beaming face and the stranger beside her.
“Mum, this is Daniel. He saved me from some louts.”
“Eleanor Sutton,” she introduced herself, smiling warmly. “Come through to the kitchen. Tell me what happened.”
As Eleanor set out tea, Claire excitedly recounted the ordeal. When she finished, her mother shook her head.
“No more walks alone, darling.” Then she studied Daniel. “What brought you there tonight?”
“My heart led me,” he joked weakly.
“And what do you do for work?”
“Police.”
“Ah, explains how you handled those boys so easily.” She hesitated, then asked, “Not married?”
“No.”
The answer pleased her but also sparked suspicion. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-five next month.”
Her frown deepened. A good-looking lad, twenty-five, unmarried? She fell silent. Daniel guessed her thoughts.
“I had a girlfriend,” he admitted. “She died a year ago.”
“Oh, Daniel, Im so sorry.”
They drank their tea in quiet. When they finished, Daniel stood.
“Thank you for the tea. I should go.” He glanced at Claires uncertain expression and smiled. “Claire, lets swap numbers. If you ever need help, call me.”
That night, sleep evaded him.
“Whats happening to me? Walking with her it was like I could hear Emilys heartbeat.”
He closed his eyesbut for the first time, Emilys face wouldnt come clearly. Instead, he saw Claires features. He finally drifted off after midnight.
In the morning, he shaved, washed, then grabbed his phone and dialed the number hed saved.
“Hello?” Claires voice was surprised.
“Hey. What are you up to?”
“Just heading to the shops.”
“Wait for me. Well go together.”
“Hi, Claire!”
“Daniel!” She stood there, hesitating, as if torn between throwing her arms around him and staying perfectly still.
Eleanor appeared in the doorway.
“Good morning, Mrs. Sutton!”
“Mum, were popping to the shops. Need anything?”
“Go on, enjoy yourselves. Ill manage.”
Daniel took Claire to his parents house. His mothers face lit upthe first time in a year hed brought a girl home.
“Come in, come in! Lunch is nearly ready.”
“Mum, this is Claire.” He grinned at her. “Claire, this is my mum, Margaret.”
“Lovely to meet you!” Margaret looked as if shed forgotten every worry in the world.
His father stepped out, trying to look stern, but a smile tugged at his lips.
Over lunch, Claire answered their questions, eager to make a good impression. Afterwards, she helped Margaret clear the table, chatting away about something nonsensical and girlish.
Daniel caught her arm.
“Claire, come see my room.”
He nudged her inside
“Agh!” She gasped, hands flying to her mouth.
Her eyes were glued to the photo on his wallDaniel and Emily, smiling together.
“Claire, whats wrong?”
“Thats Emily.”
“You knew her?”
“A year ago, I was dying. She didnt make it. The transplant”
“You have her heart?!”
She nodded, tears spilling over.
Daniel stared, her face and Emilys flickering in his mind. For the first time, he thought of fate.
“God must exist,” he murmured. “He brought her back to me. And I wont lose her again.”
He pulled Claire close.
“Ill stay with you forever,” he whispered, as solemn as an oath.
Was it fate? Coincidence? What do you think? Drop a comment belowand if you enjoyed this, let us know! Weve got plenty more stories where this came from.
