The old lady turned to Robert and spoke words that sent a chill down his spine: “Today shall be a splendid, sunlit day. Well have plenty of time to make something of it.”
It was a quiet Wednesday, and Robert was travelling by train through the English countryside. The carriage was far from crowded, and the atmosphere was peaceful. An elderly lady entered and settled herself next to him, clearly on her way to tend her cottage garden outside the city, as Robert and several others were. Memories of his late wife swept over him as he gazed out at the rolling hills. They had shared many journeys to their allotment together; yet since her illness, Robert had shied away from the place, haunted by the ache of solitude and nostalgia.
As the train came to a stop at the rural platform, the old lady turned to Robert and repeated those hauntingly familiar words: “Today shall be a splendid, sunlit day. Well have plenty of time to make something of it.” These were precisely the words his beloved wife used to say to him. Startled, Robert nodded in agreement, and the two struck up a conversation, sharing stories about the poor harvest that year, the severity of the last winter, and their hopes for better days.
When they reached the bus station, Robert realised that hed never encountered this woman before, though it felt somehow as if he had. They walked together for a time before going their separate ways. Upon arriving at his plot, Robert discovered it had become overgrown with weeds and brambles during his long absence. Yet, the warmth of that brief conversation left him feeling uplifted, and he found himself wandering his land with unexpected interest.
With newfound energy, Robert set to work, digging beds and pulling up weeds with a determination he hadnt felt in some time. The pleasure of seeing the rich English earth beneath his hands convinced him not to part with his patch of land just yet. He took a well-earned rest on a weathered bench, enjoying sandwiches and hot tea, and basked in the comfort of the flowers swaying nearby, while the ripening apples beneath the old Bramley tree brought back sweet memories.
Roberts spirits had noticeably lifted; he resolved to visit his allotment more frequently. When he ventured into the nearby woods to forage for mushrooms, it felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart. The simple work gave newfound meaning and happiness to his days.
On his journey home, he met the same old lady once again. Sharing apples, they laughed together over tales of their gardening efforts. She assured Robert that there was still much life left ahead of him, encouraging him to find joy and purpose in his work upon the land. When Robert finally alighted at his stop, he smiled at the setting sun, filled with contentment and at last free from the burdens of sorrow that had weighed him down.
