A Problematic Prophecy

Photo by petr sidorov on Unsplash

The seeds of future events are carried within ourselves. They are implicit in us and unfold, according to the laws of their own nature. —Lawrence Durrell, The Alexandria Quartet.

On the day of their son’s funeral, Paul Beecham and his wife Claire stood beneath the arched entrance to the university chapel greeting the long line of visitors. But it was Claire, in a simple black dress, with no jewelry or makeup, who received the full brunt of mourners as they stepped inside out of the bright, humid August morning. She allowed their long embraces, whispered condolences, and tear-stained cheeks pressing against her own. Paul, however, kept his head bowed, avoided making eye contact and looked—dressed as he was in a black suit, black shirt and tie—more like a consoling clergyman than a grieving father. Had Claire not been there as a buffer, the gathering tsunami of sadness would have overwhelmed him. For those persistent few who waited long enough to penetrate his seawall of grief, Paul said only, “Thank you for coming.”

Published April 25, 2024 by The Lumina Journal