Written for Pancreatic Cancer UK, to help fundraise and raise awareness after losing my dad to this terrible illness in November 2020

Irelands Crolly Doll  – Word prompt from Gloria Mcbreen.  Part three of five

Missing

Meeting Aoife had been interesting but had raised questions and had come with a warning.  She had been watching and listening to my life.   Situations had occurred and I had dismissed them, but there was now a greater meaning.

A year ago, Robert, my husband of twenty-five years left me.  I woke one morning to find him missing.  There was no note, and no explanation, the police still don’t know where he is.  I had decided that he had just left, there had been no body found.  Aoife had given me a new reason to be concerned.  She had heard his telephone conversation that morning despite the doll being in a box.  He had talked as if he didn’t know the person, he sounded scared and desperate.

Things were very wrong.  Why had I been watched most of my life through the Crolly doll? Was it protecting me or destined to hurt me? Why, has Aoife been destined to watch and hear me most of her life?  I have the phone number of Aoife’s daughter, she has heard all about me due to all the messages and dreams she has received about me.

Robert

Sat in a small room he wrapped the blanket around him.  Drawing on the wall he added an elephant to his jungle scene.  The filthy bed in the corner and toilet showing how he had lost all dignity.  Putting his family before himself he knew that he wasn’t getting out of his prison. For years Robert had been tormented by his persecutors.  A year ago, they had lured him out of his home for a meeting.   Threatening that they would harm Laura if he didn’t come.  Not wanting to scare her he hadn’t left a note thinking that he wouldn’t be too long.

Leaving the house, he had driven to the meeting place, not expecting to get a needle jabbed in his arm.  Stuffed into a boot he later found himself locked inside his prison, wearing clothes that are not his own.  With a visit three times daily with food and drink and chalk left to draw his masterpiece.  His monotony was never-ending, the same day after day.

It had all started after a job went wrong.   The foreman at the building site was hiding a dark secret, and he had found it.  Trapped now he had asked God to take him away from his torment, but it hadn’t happened.

Limerick

After a walk around the Limerick museum, I thought about the Crolly dolls.  I wondered if any of them were watching over anyone else.  The thought of being watched over all my life gave me goosebumps. Are the Crolly dolls protectors or just dolls?

Sitting in a Limerick café, I pushed my spoon around my coffee mug. Alone with my thoughts, was I going to see Robert again?  Aoife seemed to think I was, but his reason for leaving needed to be worked out.  I now need to talk to the police again but how to I explain about Aoife?  The tale of the Crolly dolls sounds like a tall story, but I know its true as have felt it watching me.  She has given me hope that I will see him again.

My mission now is to talk again with Aoife’s daughter, Erin, I need to work out a plan as to what to do next.  Pulling out my note pad, I found a pen and start to make a list.

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Written for A story a day for Pancreatic Cancer UK