First line from willowdot21 | An insight to a heart mind and soul. (wordpress.com)   thankyou Willow!

Written for Pancreatic Cancer UK – For Everyone Affected by Pancreatic Cancer

Written to raise awareness of Pancreatic Cancer and to fundraise for further research into this terrible disease! Following losing my wonderful dad to this awful illness in November 2020.

The Yorkshire Hills

I opened my eyes and there it was, the most beautiful sight you could imagine.  The rolling Yorkshire Hills, the woodland ahead of me and the scent of the wildflowers.  As Joseph is calling me, Isobel is running away.   Giving chase to their fun, skipping along I felt like Maria in the Sound of Music.  However, we are a world away from the Von Trapp family.  We had escaped the drudgery of our life in the busy city for a few days in the dales.

The beauty of the undisturbed countryside, no petrol or diesel fumes, just natural wildlife.  Spending time just the three of us, time away from school and work. After a difficult weekend I had decided to grab the tent and drive us a few miles from Harrogate to the hills.  Talking about the flowers and watching for wild rabbits and squirrels. The children are enjoying the walk being outdoors.

The daily grind of the office, school and homework, the arguments when I’m tired and work isn’t being done.  The mess of the children’s rooms and the tedium of technology, we needed to escape.

Inhaling the country air, Isobel takes my hand, following Joseph up a narrow path into a wood I try and concentrate on now. Focus on the children, focus on the present, the past has happened, and we can’t go back.

A shock

Losing sight of Joseph for an instant, Isobel starts to cry.  Walking through the trees the day gets darker.  Something wasn’t right, Isobel was sobbing, and Joseph was somewhere up ahead.

“Mummy” a loud scream and shout, Isobel sobbed harder at her brother’s voice. He’s panicked cry had Isobel grabbing my hand as we ran.

If I had known what was about to happen, I would have not led the children to the woods. The scene that greeted us changed us all.   There is no coming back from this.  The young woman was lying rigid, the dirt around her dug up as if she had recently been disturbed from her cold woodland grave. There had been news reports of a serial killer, young girls his favourite victims.

Dialling 999, the drama was just starting.  As the police arrived we were moved from the scene.  Crossing the path of a killer on a happy afternoon was not part of our plan.  Dead bodies are supposed to be in morgues or graves, not lying in the wood for a ten year old to find.  Had we disturbed someone, why was the body in the open?  Keeping the children close we walked back to the car in stunned silence.

We had always enjoyed walking but driving back to our campsite, both children were now asking to go home, and Isobel was sobbing for her daddy. He was not going to be amused, he was annoyed at us for leaving and now we are all going to have nightmares for the foreseeable future.

Husband Paul

Working long hours as director of a large company I need to come home to peace.  I need to relax after work, Julie does all the family stress and child care, I earn the money.   I didn’t want them to go to the country alone but I’m working on a busy project, no time to abandon it and go camping with my family.  After a long business meeting and day of negotiation I was looking forward to a quiet beer while finishing my paperwork.  Turning into the drive I didn’t expect to see Cheryl’s car.  Though I was pleased they were home I was a bit disappointed that my evening was now going to be disturbed.

Turning of the engine I jumped as there was a bang on the window.  In the dark it took me moments to realise it was Cheryl stood there.  Opening the car door and climbing out she grabbed me crying.  She was shaking uncontrollably.  I felt pain in my chest, what had happened? Had someone died?

A need for family

The news readers words made me choke on my tea.   “A small child disturbed whoever killed her.”

Why had they not just killed Joseph?

Lucy had not been married but was a mum to two small children.  The police were looking for witnesses, and asking for help in solving her murder.

We need to keep our family together, Paul works all hours and I’m always left with the children, often alone.  Paul was calmer than I expected when we told it what had happened.  He left his work that night and actually read to the children, who now insist they are never going to walk through woods ever again.  This is not something that any of us ever want to see again.  Though Paul is always busy he is now coming home earlier, still loaded with paperwork but he is home.

A need to listen

Finding the woman has brought us closer as a family. She was young and innocent, just met the wrong person who then got disturbed burying her in the woods.  Her killer now found but the repercussions will continue to haunt our family.  The children are now booked for counselling, maybe this will make them stronger but for now it will be a day at a time till they stop crying at night.  Both now sleep with their light on but a day at a time, I hope things get easier.

We have learnt that we need to listen and spend time together, life is short and could end at any time. It is important to plan for the future, but we need to enjoy today too.  Joseph will always tell his woodland horror story, but we will always have each other.

Written for A story a day for Pancreatic Cancer UK – Just muddling through life

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