Missing a loved one

My story started many years ago in 1983 when I was just 18, I met and fell in love with a guy and we got engaged had 3 wonderful years together,then for some silly reason we split up. I never forgot about him, still loved him even though he married someone else. In time I met a guy and we had two children, sadly that failed after 8 years, still, I was happy and content with my life. In March 2001, I was coming home from work when I saw my first love in our village, my kids had gone away with my parents, so I wasn't in a great rush to get home. To cut a long story short, seems that he had got divorced and had come in the hope of rekindling what we once had, we ended up getting back together and it was as if we'd never been apart, I was extatic especially when he moved in with me and the kids, they loved him and he was a brilliant person to them. We all got on really well, he wasn't just my lover he was my soulmate and the best friend anyone could wish for.

Over time though, it became apparrant that he'd developed a drink problem during the time we'd been apart, I tried everything to help him, took him to clinics, hospitals,etc,nothing worked. Eventually it became too much and we split up after another 3 years. After 6 months I met my current partner, but my ex and I used to call each other all the time, he was still my best friend and there was no animosity between them. I phoned him on 25th March for a chat, the day after he was dead,had a fit in the night and that was it. The things that have happened since are beyond coincidence, mostly it is things that I have had no-one to witness, like imagining what song they were going to play at his funeral, then 5 mins later it came on the TV.

Last night was freaky though. Called the local hospice for bereavement counsellor, the lady who answered the phone asked me if I was the same lady she'd just spoken to regarding a patient in there with the same name as his mum. My partner phoned later to confirm what I'd been told.

The Sailor

I talked to a mother and her daughter who had had alose. They told me what their sons name was. And I told them that he drowned on a ship, he was in the navy. The boys name was Steve like mine, and I was able to come up with facts about him such as I heard a piano playing and they said yes he did love to play. Then I said I heard Jazz music in my head and they said no to their knowledge he never played Jazz however when they asked his wife she said yes he had just purchased a book of jazz music before he died.

Dad's Warning

Me and my husband Colin were relaxing watching tv one night. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the living room door. Bang! The kids were upstairs in bed,fast asleep. Maybe I was imagining it? But another knock then a third and a fourth. getting more urgent. 'Go and see,' I urged Colin, When Colin opened the door, the hall was empty. 'Strange,' he sighed,shivering like an icy wind had blown over him. 'Must be our ears!' We put it out of our minds, we had other things to think about... My dad, Terry died three days later. He had emphysema but it was still unexpected. As time has passed though I've started thinking maybe it was a warning that night. Were those knocks a sign from my dad? His way of saying goodbye...?

Im Sorry

My story goes back to the year 1991. My mother had died of cancer on my birthday, June 7th. My wife and I were visiting some really good friends on the following Saturday evening, which was the Saturday between my mothers passing, and her funeral. We were sitting around the lounge, just chatting away with our friends, and also in the room was their young daughter Jessica, who was just a toddler then, and her only words had been the usual da-da, and goo-goo etc. Suddenly Jessica crawled towards where my wife and I were sitting, and she was making it quite obvious that she wanted to sit with us. My wife lifted her up, and Jessica crawled over to my lap. In her right hand was one of her mothers hair brushes. She then proceeded to brush my hair, and I obviously helped her by bending my head down closer to her.

Up until this point, I just assumed that she was playing at being a hairdresser, which would be no great surprise, as her mother Gail was one herself. She was obviously holding the brush quite awkwardly, but was actually extremely gentle as the stiff bristles were passing through my hair. Then, something changed, and although it is still difficult to describe, Jessicas face altered slightly, I think it was something to do with her eyes, although I find it hard to recall that particular detail. She brought her face very very close to mine, and then SHE SPOKE. She only said three words, but they were clear, concise, and most definitely un-baby like. She said Chris, Im sorry. And even though this was an incredible event, I remember not being immediately surprised by it. I just answered You dont have to be sorry about anything, because I just knew that it was my mother apologising for passing away on my birthday. As soon as I had answered, Jessica completely lost interest, crawled back down on the floor, discarded the hair brush, and resumed playing with her dolls.