At my husband’s funeral, I caught a glimpse of “the girls.” Once inseparable, we seemed like middle-aged strangers at that moment. As we gathered around our regrets and lost time, a crazy idea made us question everything.
The funeral was quiet. Only a few people stood around, exchanging whispers. I stood to one side, clutching my husband’s old hat. It was all I had left of him, of us. The murmurs of condolences drifted past me, barely audible.
“You should go home,” someone whispered, but I didn’t move.
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I thought back to all the plans we’d put off. Our last ocean trip, the dreams we’d put aside for later. Later, he was gone.
“Is this… Nora?”
My voice caught in my throat when I spotted a familiar figure among the group of people. She looked unsure of herself and was clutching her purse tightly, like a shield. Before I could compose myself, another familiar face appeared.
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“Lorna?” I whispered, almost laughing, I was so stunned.
She stood there confidently, her bright scarf and glasses bringing a touch of life to the dark crowd. I felt like I was seeing a ghost from my youth, but her eyes bore the weight of years gone by.
“Girls…”
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Later, we found ourselves crammed into a small cafe.
“This feels surreal,” Nora breathed, stirring her tea. “How long has it been since we’ve all been together?”
“Too long,” Lorna replied. “And on this occasion… It’s unfair.”
I nodded. “I’ve spent the last few years taking care of him. Everything else just… stopped.”
“What now?” Nora asked softly.
“His last wish was to see the ocean again. I didn’t make that happen while he was alive. But I’m going to make it happen now.”
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“I don’t even know what my own wishes are anymore,” Nora confessed. “My family… I don’t think they ever thought of me as more than a housekeeper. I changed the Thanksgiving turkey recipe last year, and it was a scandal. A turkey scandal.”
Lorna snorted, but her humor quickly faded. “At least you’re surrounded by people. I’ve been alone for so long, I think I’ve forgotten what joy is.”
Suddenly, I got carried away: “What if we went on a trip together? All together. What’s the worst that could happen?”
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Nora blinked. “A trip? Just like that?”
Lorna smiled. “I like it. It’s crazy, but I like it.”
We laughed, we were really at the beginning of a crazy adventure.
***
A few days later, the airport buzzed with the sound of rolling suitcases, distant announcements, and the occasional laughter of families experiencing their own adventures. I clutched my boarding pass, feeling a growing sense of excitement.
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For once, my suitcase contained things that I had chosen not in haste or out of necessity, but simply because I liked them.
Nora stood nearby, frantically rummaging through her bag.
“My passport was here a second ago!” she exclaimed, her voice rising with each word.
“It’s in your hand, Nora,” Lorna pointed out, her calm tone betraying a slight smile.
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Nora blushed and held up the document as if it had appeared out of thin air. “Oh, well… I was just checking.”
Lorna adjusted her scarf with ease, but I noticed the way her fingers were shaking.
“Relax,” I said, giving him a light nudge with my elbow. “You’re the picture of confidence.”
“Fake it until you make it,” she whispered back, her smile widening.
When we landed, the real journey began. We rented a shiny convertible that Nora had insisted on.
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“If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it in style,” she said, throwing her bags into the trunk.
The open road greeted us with the salty smell of the ocean, and the horizon seemed to stretch on forever, challenging us to dream bigger.
Of course, not everything went as planned.
“My luggage is gone,” Lorna called back to the motel the first night.
“Missing? How is that possible?” Nora asked, raising her voice again.
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“No idea, maybe I left them in baggage claim. But there’s no need to be picky. I’ll buy something else.”
True to her word, she returned an hour later wearing a flowing dress that looked like it had been made for her.
“Problem solved,” she said, turning dramatically into the motel parking lot.
That evening, the city vibrated to the sound of music and the glow of lights. A poster floated above the square: “Annual Dance Party Tonight!” Young couples danced.
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Lorna’s eyes lit up.
“I’m signing up.”
“Without a partner?” I asked him skeptically.
“Details,” she said, waving me off.
It wasn’t long before a man with silver hair and a kind smile approached her.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked, handing her a single rose.
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The music began, and even though their steps weren’t perfect, Lorna beamed with joy. When the announcer declared them the winners, her laughter echoed around the square. She held up the small trophy as if it were an Olympic medal.
“Roger, my dance partner, asked me out,” she said later, her cheeks flushed.
The night seemed almost a dream until I felt dizzy. I leaned against the edge of the table.
“Martha, are you okay?” Nora’s voice cut through the mist.
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***
I woke up in a hospital room. The doctor adjusted his glasses and looked at me.
“My dear, your body has been through a lot. Sudden changes, emotional stress, physical fatigue. It’s all adding up. You need rest, and frankly, no more traveling for now.”
I nodded.
“I’ll scatter the ashes tomorrow morning,” I said, looking at the girls. “Then I’ll go home.”
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Back at the motel, the atmosphere was tense. Lorna poured tea while Nora sat stiffly on the edge of her chair, her fingers drumming against her knee.
“You don’t have to cut the trip short, Martha,” Lorna said, breaking the silence. “Stay a few more days. We’ll rest, take it easy. You deserve it.”
Nora scowled. “We’ve done enough. Martha got her husband’s wish, you met Roger, but what about me? What daring or life-changing thing did I do on this trip? Nothing.”
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“It’s not fair,” Lorna fumed. “We’ve all been through a lot. Maybe instead of blaming us, you should ask yourself why you’re holding back.”
Nora’s face flushed. “Hold me back? Do you know what it’s like to always be the person people count on? To never have a moment to yourself because your whole life revolves around other people?”
“And do you know what it’s like to be completely alone?” Lorna retorted. “No one to rely on, no one waiting for you at home. It’s easy to criticize when you’re surrounded by family, even if they’re ungrateful.”
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“Ungrateful? My family takes me for granted every day!” Nora’s voice rose. She slammed her hand on the table, making the teacups clink.
“That’s enough!” I said.
The room fell silent. Then Lorna stood up abruptly.
“It’s no use,” she muttered. “I’m going to bed.”
Nora followed suit, slamming the door behind her.
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That evening, each of us retreated to our own corner, the cracks in our friendship feeling deeper than ever. For the first time, I wondered if this trip had been a mistake.
***
The next morning, Lorna and I had breakfast in the motel’s small dining room. The aroma of coffee mingled with the faint scent of the ocean breeze coming in through the open windows. I poured myself a cup, savoring the warmth, and glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Where’s Nora?” I asked, stirring the cream in my mug. “She’s usually the first one down.”
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Lorna shrugged as she buttered her toast. “Maybe she’s sleeping in. Yesterday wasn’t very restful.”
We ate in comfortable silence for a while, but as time passed, an unease set in. Lorna’s eyes flickered toward the window.
“Oh, my God! The convertible’s gone! You know, I’ll feel better if we go see it.”
I nodded, putting down my coffee. We hurried to the reception desk.
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“Excuse me,” Lorna asked the receptionist. “Do you know where our friend Nora went? She was in room 12.”
The young woman behind the counter looked up from her computer.
“Oh, yes, she left early this morning. She mentioned paragliding. There’s a site nearby that’s quite popular. She took one of our brochures.”
“Paragliding?” I repeated. “Alone?”
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Lorna exchanged a look with me, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I’ll call Roger. We need a ride.”
Roger arrived after twenty minutes, his car causing a small cloud of dust as it parked in the parking lot.
“Good morning, ladies,” he greeted us with a smile, then his expression turned serious when he saw our faces. “What’s going on?”
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“Nora has decided to go paragliding,” Lorna explained, sliding into the passenger seat. “We have to stop her before she does something reckless.”
The ride was stressful. I wrung my hands, muttering under my breath. “Paragliding. What’s going through her mind? She’s not really an adrenaline junkie.”
“Maybe this is his way of letting himself go,” Roger suggested, keeping his eyes on the road.
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When we arrived, we spotted her immediately. Nora stood on the edge of the launch pad, the shiny straps of her harness standing out against the sky. The wind whipped her hair as she stared out at the ocean, looking calm but determined.
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“Nora!” I called, rushing towards her. “What are you doing?”
She turned around slowly, a small smile on her lips. “Something for me,” she said simply.
“But it’s dangerous!” I protested. “You’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Exactly. I’ve spent my whole life being cautious. I need this.”
Lorna stepped forward. “If you do it, so do we.”
Nora raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
I looked at Lorna, horrified. “You’re not serious!”
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Lorna smiled. “If we have to take risks, let’s do it together.”
Without me realizing it, we were all strapped into harnesses. My heart pounded as our instructors led us to the edge of the platform. The ocean stretched out before us, vast and endless.
The experience was exhilarating. The wind roared in my ears as we rose above the cliffs, the ocean sparkling beneath our feet. For a few minutes, all my fears disappeared, replaced by pure, unfiltered joy.
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When we landed, our legs were wobbly and our laughter was uncontrollable. Nora’s eyes shone with newfound confidence.
“I’ve never felt anything like this,” she said, breathless.
Later, we stood on the shore, the waves caressing our feet. I opened the urn, and the ashes scattered in the wind. That moment was sacred, a perfect farewell.
“Goodbye, my love,” I whispered. “And thank you, girls. This is unforgettable.”
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The drive back was full of reflection. We had set out on a journey in search of something, and somehow, through the chaos and adventure, we had found it.
Nora returned home with a renewed spirit. She finally stood up to her family and took the time to pursue her lifelong dream of painting.
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Lorna embraced love and laughter, with Roger becoming her partner on and off the dance floor. Their impromptu moves turned into countless moments of joy.
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As for me, I chose to live boldly, volunteering at the library and sharing our story. Our paragliding jump became a promise to never put our dreams off again.
Life isn’t over. It’s just beginning.
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