1993
(...)
It was the only photo
which was taken of her and Michael after their wedding. Only
later on the photos continued. On that day Kelly and Michael had
driven with his mother and Fiona to the coast of Antrim –
seeking the last sunbeams of the day. Still Kelly remembered the
dreamy and naive expression in her eyes, she smiled embraced by
Michael. He had not changed very much although he was now
thirty-seven – but she had become a different person. This
photo showed a happy, just married, couple with the hope of a
peaceful life. When this photo was taken she had not known that
Michael was in the IRA, could not
foresee the years of misery and worry, quarrels and poverty that
were lying in front – but she had married the man she loved.
“This photo was taken by your grandma. It was shortly
after our wedding!”
“Why is it in this box? Don´t you want to put it on the
wall. It will please Dad, too!”
“We´ll see!” But Kelly thought this idea was not
so bad. There was not one single photo in this house. She put
those two photos aside and got up:
“Meghan, that´s enough for today. I must go and prepare
the lunch. If you want to take this box with you..... and you,
Steve, go and wash yourself!” With a smack on his
bottom she sent Steve out. Suddenly the front-door slammed shut;
Meghan jumped up, grabbed the box and approached Michael who had
returned home. He looked at her, irritated, when she rushed by.
“Hey, hey, “He grabbed her arm, “
Don´t you wanna say Hello to your daddy?”
Hastily she flung her arms around his neck, kissed him and ran
upstairs. The photos were more important than her father.
“What´s the matter with her?”
“She´s found photos – among them these two!”
Kelly gave him the pictures as he took off his jacket and threw
it upon the stairs.
“Oh, Lord, when was that? ´85, or?”
“This one is one year earlier – September ´84. Have I
changed?”
It was an honest question and she was afraid of the answer.
Michael looked at the photos in amazement:
“Aye, this is how you looked when I first saw
you!!”
“Have I changed??”
“Everyone changes with the years. Why this question? You´re
no longer nineteen-years old!”
“Look at my eyes – I had no idea of life in
Belfast!” Pensively she leant against him and flung her
arms around his body. His voice sounded pained:
“Do you regret your decision?”
Kelly shook head without thinking about it – it also
surprised her but it was the truth. She closed her eyes, felt his
kisses and sank into a sense of security. Oh yes, she was going
to place those photos somewhere in this house although it was not
her who stood beside Michael – it was a Kelly she had once
known....
(...)
© Ute Oettel/Fouqué-Verlag 2000 - 2007