The Truth About Love Read Free Page A

for long-sitting through gasping asthma, for looking away from down there when you helped me out of the bath because I was very weak once. Mama, Dada, am off to Tír na nÓg. I’m sorry, but I think I will have to go there now. There’s nowhere else for me. I can’t stay here. Goodnight Mama. The land of Tír na nÓg, the land of the young is bundling up the clouds, high, high. Am sky-flying. Hold on to me, Mama! Hold on! Don’t let me fly away! Hold on to me! Catch my legs! Leg! Other one too soft. Bone soft. Something’s wrong. Hold on to my good leg. Hold on Mama! Mama? Dada! Hold on! You’re heavier, Dada. Heavier than Mama. So you hold on to me, Dada. Don’t let go of me Dada. Dada? Irene goodnight Irene. Ireeeeeene goodnight… Goodnight Mama Irene goodnight, I’ll see you in my dreams. Dreams. Dreams. Goodnight … goodnight. Oh Ireeene goodnight Irene. Ireeeeeene goodnight… goodnight Mama … Irene goodnight I’ll see you in my dreams. It takes some time to fall asleep. I’ll see you there. Hold my leg Dada! Am floating all away. Dream dreaming. I dream of you. Irene goodnight Ireeeene, goodnight… goodnight Ireene … I’ll see you in my dreams.

“Dada?”
“Olivia? Is that you, Olivia?”
“It is Dada. I’m here outside your bedroom door.”
“Come in child.”
“No, Dada. I’m standing outside. Can you come out Dada?”
“Ah! Ah! Yes. Coming, child.”
“What is it, Tom? Tom, what is it? What’s happening? Olivia? Olivia! Come in here this minute.”
“No Mama. It’s nothing Mama, it’s nothing. Just there’s a mouse in my room. Will you come Dada? Will you come now? Quickly!”
“Coming, child. I’m coming.”
“That’s rubbish, Olivia. Go back to sleep. You’re seventeen. Tell her, Tom. Tell her she’s got to stop this nonsense about mice and spiders in her room. It’s all nonsense.”
“Ah please Mama, if Dada’d just come and check for me I can go back to sleep and we can all go to see him in the hospital first thing in the morning. Please come now Dada.”
“I’m coming, child.”
“Don’t close the door Tom!”
“I think I will Sissy. You need to sleep, Sissy. I’ll be back in a minute. And don’t worry, she’ll grow out of the spider thing.”
“She’s seventeen Tom … ah … Hurry back to me Tom.”
“I will Sissy. I will. I’ll just close the door for a second.”
“Olivia? Child?”
“He’s dead.”
“Oh my God. Oh my God. Who told you?”
“Father Dwyer. Just now. I heard a car turn into the road. I knew it must be Dr. Carter or Father Dwyer. I knew he was dead. About half an hour ago. I just knew. I felt it. I felt him … gone. I got up and I dressed and sat on my bed. And I waited. For the news. And it came. I heard the gate and then I opened the door—I didn’t want him to press the bell—and Father Dwyer was just standing there. I looked at him and he shook his head. He couldn’t find the words. And I closed the door on him. And I went into my room and thought, how can I bring the news to Dada without her knowing first? And I thought of all my old fears—spiders and mice … ah Dada, Dada. What will we find to help us tell her? What words will we find? Where will we find them?”
“I don’t know, Olivia. I really thought we’d have time. I thought this awful night—hiding the truth from her—lying there—a liar—trying to save her from the truth, clawing at time, Olivia—we clawed at time to try to save her from the shock—to get her through the shock—which I thought would kill her. I was certain it would kill her and that if we could hold it off—then I’d give the time to him. I thought he had a chance. I thought he’ll be unconscious and … They’ll come to tell me—to come—they’ll tell me—I was waiting for Sullivan … What have I done? Oh God, what have I done? God must help me now. Help our family. Help us tell her. We’d better face it now Olivia. There is no waiting now. No way out of this one, is there