Snowdrops. Glancing at the clock only made me feel worse half past eleven. Reece was usually home by ten. Sighing, still worried, I lay my head down on my pillow, just to rest my eyes for a few minutes

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Snowdrops

When would Reece be back? I sat on my bed and daydreamed, all the good times we had had together flashing through my mind, filling me up with the sensation I was flying. I came back to earth with a thud. Glancing at the clock only made me feel worse – half past eleven. Reece was usually home by ten. Sighing, still worried, I lay my head down on my pillow, just to rest my eyes for a few minutes…

        And awoke with a jolt, to the rhythmic thudding of a heavy hand on the front door. For a split second, I held the thought that it could be Reece, complete with a totally reasonable, acceptable excuse, and he would hold me and everything would be alright again. That image vanished, when I realised Reece never knocked like that. Frozen with panic, I sat upright. The knocking continued. A sudden burst of courage took me totally unawares. Hurriedly, I pulled on my red dressing gown. Dashing down the stairs, I grabbed the keys to the door. Slowly, I advanced. With feline agility, I tip-toed to the door. With a shaky hand, I put the key in the key-hole. Deftly I turned the knob. Willing my suspicions to be erroneous, I peeped through the crack I had created between the door and the doorframe.

There, silhouetted against the eerie moon, stood a great figure, portentously broad and equally tall, the mere look of whom would worry all but the bravest. I slumped with relief.

        ‘Hello Gwen.’ I said, letting out the deep breath I didn’t know I was holding.

        Gwen was the village policeman, a gentle giant to all who knew him, but certainly one of the most intimidating men to meet in the street. This was down mainly to his incredible width, which prevented anyone walking either side of him on a pavement. Talking to Gwen was like conversing with a ship, he was big, slow, and found it notoriously hard to change direction in a subject.

        But why was he here?

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        ‘Hello, Sarah,’ he said, not a hint of happiness in his voice.

        ‘What’s wrong? Why are you here?’

        Gwen’s face creased up. He was almost in tears. I had never seen him like this before, and I wasn’t sure how to react.

        ‘What’s wrong, Gwen? Is someone hurt? Tell me, Gwen!’

        By now, tears were rolling down Gwen’s cheeks. I had no idea what was going on: I was totally confused.

        ‘There’s been an accident, Sarah,’ Reece whispered, his voice hoarse. ‘Reece, he, he’s had an accident. He was speeding, he hit a lorry, he…’

        ‘He what? What ...

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