Jane almost skipped out of the clinic. She had been told by her consultant that she was free of cancer. Striding down the road, she passed the travel agents with its tempting array of holidays. Telling herself that she could do this on her own, she went into the shop and bought a train ticket to Athens and a ferry ticket to the incredibly small island of Halki.
A month before the all-clear, Jane received a letter from Stella who now lived on Halkii. Jane had opened the letter with shaking hands and felt slightly sick. Stella and Jane were the best of friends in the early 80s but in 1987 they had a row to end all rows, on a cliff top of all places! Jane told Stella she did not want to see her and Stella cut all contact.
The letter was fine. Stella told of her travels, her work with a local garden centre, falling in love with Halki when on holiday and purchasing a small apartment there. More importantly, she asked Jane to visit.
“After all,” she wrote, ‘a lot of water has gone under the bridge in the last 33 years.” Stella added, ‘For my part, I feel I have spent too long wondering how you are. I was determined to find you. Can we meet and try to resolve this gulf between us?”
Jane sent a brief reply to say when she would be arriving.
Now, here she was, nearing the island as the ferry turned. It stopped its engines and glided into the tiny harbour, which looked like an amphitheatre. All sounds were amplified, like a plate dropping onto a tiled floor. Jane could hear a child laughing on-shore. Then she heard her name being called.
The two women had a lovely two weeks together. They rose early and walked to the monastery at the top of the island; swam every day; watched the sun rise and set; and Jane made friends with many of the islanders.
Now they are sitting having coffee at the harbour’s edge. The ferry is waiting for passengers to board and Jane is booked to sail on it. Only now do they raise the issue of the row.
“I can’t believe that we let that man lose you your job.”
“I was glad to leave …. but you, Jane, all that publicity!”
“We shared so much then, and it looks like we can again. I realised in hospital that life really is too short.”
“And how time has put it into perspective! We have much more to remember … like taking the year 7s to the museum or …
They talked and talked and as they talked the ferry moved away from the harbour, leaving the island in its wake.
They start laughing. Jane says, “It looks like I’ve missed my boat! Can I stay?”
