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Sunday 16 June 2024

'Bypass Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and Take the Ring Road' by Gill O' Halloran

Proceed North-East on the Ring Road/ A1237. 

I forgot the chillies. 

Turn right onto Merchant Road.

Will they even sell chillies?

Continue 200 yards. 

Last time they came to dinner, they brought the food. He’d only been dead 4 weeks; I didn’t believe he’d gone. Everyone looked after me then. I liked that. Why does everyone think I’m OK now? 

Turn right onto Lyke Way.

I could use cayenne if (he’s dead) there’s no chillies and I need more rice and maybe (he’s dead) I’ll buy some candles for the table if (he’s dead) they sell those though it’s only a corner shop.

In 50 yards take a sharp left.

Their food was awful, and they kept talking about him. “It’s better to talk Cara, after all, the dead don’t leave us, they’re just in the next room.” Fuck their cliches. And they can’t make me talk about him. I got up, walked into the kitchen.

When possible, make a U-turn. 

He was at the sink. I went up to him, bowed my forehead against his back. He turned, put his finger to his lips, drew it soft across mine. I pulled him closer, and we danced around the room. When the song ended, he smiled. “It’s OK, it’s on a loop.”

Back in the living room everyone had finished eating. “Aren’t you hungry love?” 

“Leave her Ange, she probably went off for a little cry.” 

When possible, make a U-turn. 

I wasn’t crying, we were dancing.

Take a right turn onto the Ring Road/A1237.

It’s only been 10 weeks. I’ll talk to you, not about you. My family can’t stomach anything spicy; remember that time you put peri-peri sauce in their scrambled eggs? They won’t want this either, but that’s how we like it. 

You’ve arrived.

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