“Is that you, Mum?” by Kay Salle

Driving home today I was admiring the majestic mountains that greet me on my regular journey. They were shaded by broken clouds filled with rain and a menacing grey sky, but simultaneously glistening in a glorious sunrise. Familiar scenery heightened by the magic of Mother Nature and bringing with it peace of mind, the mountains never looked so beautiful. To my right was the brightest rainbow I had ever seen and being many years of age and having eyed many a rainbow, I can say this one was truly wonderful. Pouring down the colours rendered themselves so vivid as though looking at a painting. Transfixed I knew I had to stop and take a photo even if it was just to show my rainbow-obsessed daughter and this thought brought a smile. The desire presented a problem though as I was on a highway. Pulling over onto the verge I attempted to quickly capture the sight but the morning traffic made the action unsafe, forcing me to continue my way and hoping I wouldn’t lose sight of it before I found a place to stop.

Turning off the highway I continued towards home with the rainbow still on my right and varying in degrees as I wound the car around the bitumen trail. The road stretched itself for a final straight in preparation for the twisting climb of the mountain range and it was here the rainbow fell to the ground right in front of me, now less vivid at the vanishing point.

Struck with the good fortune of country road loneliness I stopped the car right there to capture the end of the rainbow. After a moment or two, I could see the first faint images of

looming motorists in the rear-view mirror, so I set off feeling very chuffed having acquired my mechanical memory. I arrived home nestled within the mountain ranges, facing the east from where I had come, I pulled into the driveway and found myself in awe of the dawn show. From within a sense that today was a special day engulfed me.

I went inside where my daughter was still lost in dreams, made myself a coffee, sat at my desk, and started to arrange my day. After busily organising home-school lesson plans, upon which the cat decides is a good place to curl up and demand attention, I changed focus to checking my diary. What is the date today? After two weeks of school holidays and not having to worry about home education for my daughter or ferrying my son around for training, I had completely lost track of the days. Flicking through the pages of the planner my eyes rested on a small note, 26 years today, signed with a love heart. Instantly I asked myself, is this today? I grabbed my phone to double check and discovered yes, it was. It is not the case that I do not remember daily the event that broke my heart and derailed my soul because the fact is I never forget, it was the passing of another year, and yet it still feels like yesterday. Sitting at my desk I allowed myself a moment to think of my youth, tears welling from wonderful memories and an ache to go back just for one more hug, one more I love you. As I sat remembering the past and thinking of that rainbow, I was cloaked in a warm energy, a pulsating comfort that snapped me into the present and I found myself enquiring out loud, Is that you, Mum?

**This story is not for reproduction without express consent from the author. Contact via email – thephilosopherroams@gmail.com.