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‘Claire, may your love be reflected in all who knew you, and may you continue to live on through the lives of those you leave behind.
Your legacy is the memory of a kind heart and a protective nature.
Your legacy is our memories of you.
Your legacy is all the times you gave of yourself to us: hugs, time, favours, actions, conversations. Laughs.’
Carrie nodded to Graham, who stepped forward.
‘And so, into the freedom of wind and sunshine
We let you go
Into the dance of the moon and planets
We let you go
Into the wind’s breath and the hands of the stars
We let you go
And into the sadness and smiles of our memories
We let you go
Go safely, go with love in your heart, and may you forever be at peace.
I love you, sweetheart. I’ll love you forever.
Amen.’
‘Amen,’ the group repeated.
Carrie nodded at the choir, who started singing “Ave Maria”.Despite Claire not being particularly religious, she loved it as a piece of music.
‘Well done,’ Rory whispered, as he gathered her into his arms.
Carrie let out a sigh of relief: she’d done it, and she hadn’t cried. Now, she could cry, and dissolve in his arms. Because it was safe to do that.
‘I love you,’ she whispered.
‘I love you too. Always,’ he murmured back, kissing the top of her head. He continued to hold her as they stood on the hill, listening to the choir.
I love you, Claire, she thought.I always will.
For once, there was no answer. But Carrie knew that her sister had heard her, and that she understood.
And, despite her sadness, she was also, finally, happy.
EPILOGUE
SIX MONTHS LATER
Carrie tugged nervously at her nurse’s tunic, waiting for June to finish settling herself at the piano. The rest of the choir milled around her, taking their places at the end of the hospital reception area, gossiping and fidgeting with their outfits. Angus looked surprisingly smart in a tailored black suit and tartan tie, his long hair slicked back in a ponytail. Dotty looked as glamorous as ever with her silver hair arranged in a neat chignon, and wore a pink twinset and pearls. June, always stylish, today wore a billowing paisley gown in peacock colours with kimono-style sleeves and a heavy gold necklace which glowed beautifully against her dark brown skin.
Carrie felt drab, compared to everyone else, but she was the only one in the choir who actually worked at the hospital. The concert for the patients was just a part of Carrie’s day today, but she had put on some red lipstick and brushed her hair so that she looked presentable. The week before she’d also finally made it to the only hairdresser’s in the village and had her bob cut back in, and her deep red colour redone, so that she looked like herself again.
Before the rest of the choir had arrived, Carrie, Dr Dan and some of other nurses had moved the usual chairs from the end of the waiting area and turned them around, so that patients could sit and watch the concert. Many patients had been brought down in wheelchairs, and some of them sat attached to drips and breathing equipment with the nursing staff on hand, sometimes sitting next to a patient to help them if it was needed.
