One More Year Together… For the past while, Mr. Arthur Evans hadn’t gone out on his own. Not since the day he left for the clinic, lost his way, and forgot both his address and his own name. He wandered the neighbourhood in confusion until his eyes landed upon a very familiar building: the old clock factory where Mr. Evans had spent nearly fifty years of his working life. He stared at the factory, certain he recognised it, but the reason escaped him, as did his own identity—until someone approached from behind with a friendly pat on the shoulder: “Evans! Uncle Arthur, what brings you here—missing us, perhaps? We were just reminiscing the other day about the best foreman and mentor we ever had. Arthur Evans, you haven’t even recognised me? It’s me—Sam Cooper! You made a man of me, Evans!” Something clicked in Arthur’s mind—his memory returned all at once, thank heavens. Sam grinned and embraced his old mentor, “Recognised me now? Shaved off the moustache, don’t look much like myself, eh? Will you come in, the lads would love to see you?” “Perhaps another time, Sam, I’m feeling rather worn out,” admitted Mr. Evans. “I’ve got my car out front, let me drive you home—I remember your address!” Sam cheerfully replied. He drove Arthur home, and ever since, Mrs. Natalie Evans hadn’t let her husband go out alone, even though his memory seemed fully recovered. They only went out together now—to the park, the clinic, and the shops. One day Arthur fell ill—fever, harsh cough. Natalie hurried alone to the pharmacy and supermarket, although she herself was under the weather. She bought medicine and groceries, not even much, but a strange weakness overtook her, and she was short of breath. Her shopping bag felt impossibly heavy. Natalie paused to catch her breath, then struggled onward toward home. A few steps further, she stopped again, set her heavy bag down on the fresh snow, and gently sank to the path leading to her house. Her last thought—why had she bought so much at once, silly old lady! Thankfully, the neighbours saw her lying on the snow, hurried over, and called an ambulance. Natalie was rushed away, while neighbours took her bags of food and medicine, returned, and rang her doorbell. “Her husband must be home—he’s looked poorly lately, I haven’t seen him outside,” guessed Mrs. Nina Miller. “He’s likely sleeping; Natalie mentioned he’s been quite unwell too—oh, old age is no joy, I’ll check back later…” Arthur Evans heard the bell. But his cough made breathing hard, and when he tried to stand, dizziness from fever nearly caused him to collapse. The cough quieted, and Arthur drifted into a strange half-sleep, halfway between dream and reality. Where was Natalie? Why was she taking so long? He dozed for ages, but then heard light footsteps. Suddenly, his wife appeared—his Natalie, thank goodness she was back. “Arthur, give me your hand, hold on, get up, come now,” she called softly. And so, clutching her curiously cold, frail hand, he rose. “Now open the door, quickly, open up,” Natalie whispered. “Why?” Arthur asked, but opened the door as she asked—and in came neighbour Nina Miller and young Sam Cooper from work. “Evans, why didn’t you answer? We knocked and called!” “Natalie—where’s Natalie? She was just here!” Arthur stammered, lips pale, unable to understand where his wife had gone. “She’s in hospital, in intensive care!” exclaimed Nina Miller. “He’s delirious,” Sam realised, just in time to catch his old friend as he fainted… The neighbours called an ambulance—it was a feverish faint. Two weeks later, Natalie was discharged from hospital. Sam drove her home, having helped Arthur recover in her absence. At last, Mr. and Mrs. Evans were together again. Alone at last, tears were hard to hold back. “It’s good, isn’t it, Arthur—there are still kind people. Nina is such a decent woman—remember how her kids came round after school? We fed them, helped with homework, and she’d collect them after work.” “Yes, not everyone remembers kindness, but she’s stayed warm-hearted, it means a lot,” Arthur agreed. “And Sam—a bright young lad; I was his mentor, helped him find his feet. Many young folks forget us oldies, but he didn’t.” “The New Year’s in a few days, Arthur—it’s so wonderful that we’re together again,” Natalie said, nestling close to her husband. “Natalie, tell me honestly—how did you come from hospital and make me open the door for my rescuers? I would’ve died here without you.” He dreaded she’d think his mind was slipping, but Natalie looked astonished, “So it was real? They told me I’d had a clinical death—and during that, in a dreamlike haze, I came to you? I remember it too—seeing myself in intensive care, then leaving and coming to you…” “What strange magic, what blessings as we grow old! And I still love you, more than ever before,” Arthur Evans took her hands in his and they sat for a long time, silent, gazing at one another as if afraid fate might separate them again. On New Year’s Eve, Sam dropped by with a basket of his wife’s homemade pies. Neighbour Nina popped in too; they chatted over tea and pies, feeling content and warm inside. At midnight, Natalie and Arthur welcomed in the New Year together. “You know,” Natalie smiled, “I made a wish—if we see in this New Year together, then it’s ours. We’ll have another year yet.” They laughed with joy at the thought. One more whole year together—it means everything, it is happiness itself.

Another Whole Year Together…

Recently, Arthur Bennett hadnt gone out alone at all. Hed stayed indoors ever since that one terrifying day when he strolled down to the local surgery, forgot his own address and even his own name. He wandered straight off in the wrong direction, circling familiar streets for ages, until his eyes fell upon a building he knew very well indeed. It turned out to be the old clockworks factory where Arthur had worked for nearly fifty years.

Arthur stood there gazing at the grand brick building, heart pounding as he tried to remember why it seemed so familiar, and even who he was. He couldnt recall anything, until someone came up quietly behind him and clapped him on the shoulder.

Bennett! Uncle Arthur, what brings you here? Missing the old place? The lad grinned. We were just talking about you the other daythe best mentor we ever had. Dont you recognise me, Arthur? Its me, Charlie Jenkins, remember? You always said Id make a proper man one day.

Something snapped into place in Arthurs mind, his thoughts flooded back, and the emptiness lifted. Thank goodness for that. Charlie beamed and hugged his old mentor.

Recognised me now? I shaved off my moustache, so I dont quite look myself, do I? Anyway, fancy popping in for a cuppa? The lads would love to see you!

Maybe next time, Charlie, said Arthur, weary. Im a bit worn out today.

No worriesIve got my car here. Ill give you a lift. I remember your address, dont I? said Charlie excitedly.

Charlie dropped him home, and since then, Arthurs wife, Evelyn Bennett, never let him out on his own, even though his memory was quite alright now.

From then on, they did everything togetherwalks in the park, trips to the surgery, shopping in the local shops.

Then, one day, Arthur came down poorly; fever, a deep cough. Evelyn, feeling under the weather herself, hurried off alone to fetch medicine and groceries. She bought just the essentials, but a strange weakness overcame her. The shopping bag felt impossibly heavy, and every few steps she had to stop for breath. She set the bag down on the fresh snow, and before she knew it, gently slumped down onto the pathway leading to their front door.

Her last thought was, Why did I buy so much at once? Old age must be getting the better of me.

Luckily, neighbours were just leaving their flat and spotted Evelyn on the snowy path. They rushed over and called an ambulance.

Evelyn was taken to hospital, while kind neighbours picked up the bag of groceries, returned, and started knocking at their door.

Arthur must still be home, ill perhaps; I havent seen him for days, mused neighbour Susan Morris. Hes probably sleeping. Evelyn said he often feels unwell. Ah, such is old ageIll pop by again later.

Arthur Bennett heard the doorbell, but his cough made it hard to breathe. He tried to stand, but dizziness and fever nearly bowled him over.

His coughing subsided at last, and he drifted into a strange, dreamlike sleep. Where was Evelyn, and why hadnt she returned?

He lay half-awake for ages, when he suddenly heard gentle footsteps. And then, Evelyn herself approached him, and it felt so right to see her return.

Arthur, give me your hand, hold onto mecome on, stand up, Evelyn called softly. He rose, grasping her strangely cool and frail hand.

Now open the door, quickly, Evelyn told him quietly.

Why? Arthur asked, surprised, but he opened it since she asked. Immediately, neighbour Susan Morris and young Charlie stepped inside.

Bennett, why werent you answering? We rang and knocked for ages!

But Evelynwhere is Evelyn? She was just here! Arthur stammered, his lips pale as he tried to fathom where his wife had suddenly gone.

Shes in hospitalin intensive care, Susan replied, startled.

I think hes delirious, Charlie guessed, just in time to catch his old mentor as he fainted from fever…

Susan and Charlie called an ambulance; it turned out to be simple exhaustion from illness.

Two weeks later, Evelyn came home from hospital. Charlie drove her back, and he and Susan had looked after Arthur, who was finally on the mend.

The most important thing was that they were together again.

When Arthur and Evelyn were finally left in peace, both struggled to hold back tears.

At least the world still has kind people, Arthur, Evelyn whispered, Susans a good soul. Do you remember her children running over after school? Wed feed them, help with their homeworkthen Susan would finish work and take them home.

Yes, though not everyone remembers kindness. But Susan never hardened her heart. That means a lot, agreed Arthur.

And Charlieonce a young lad. I mentored him. Youd think hed have forgotten me by now, but hes never left me behind.

In a few days, itll be New Years Eve, Arthur. How wonderful to be together again, Evelyn murmured, holding her husband close.

Evelyn, tell me honestlyhow did you come to me from the hospital and make me open the door for our rescuers? Id have been lost without you, Arthur asked hesitantly.

He feared she might think his mind was wandering again, but Evelyn just looked at him with wonder.

So it really happened? They told me I had a clinical deathI felt as if I left my own body, saw myself in the hospital, and came home to help you… I remember it, too; I saw myself, then went to you.

My, weve had some miracles in our old age. Yet I love you now more than ever, whispered Arthur, taking her hands as they sat long in silence, gazing at one another as if afraid life might part them once more.

On New Years Eve, Charlie dropped by with a basket of treatshis wife had baked pies. Then Susan nipped in, and they all sat around the table with tea and pies, sharing warmth and laughter.

Arthur and Evelyn saw in the New Year side by side.

You know, I wished that if we welcomed the New Year together, it would be our yearthat wed have more time to live, Evelyn smiled to her husband.

And both of them broke into laughter at the sheer delight of that thought.

Another year of life togetherthat is a gift beyond measure.

In the end, its the kindness of friends, the devotion of loved ones, and the hope of another day that truly make life worth living.