Déjà Vu She Always Waited for Letters. Since Childhood. Her Addresses Changed, Trees Grew Smaller,…

Déjà vu

She always waited for letters. Ever since she was a child, she waited. Her whole life.
Addresses changed. The trees seemed to shrink, people drifted further away, and her waiting became softer, fainter.

He never trusted anyone or expected much. Outwardly, he seemed perfectly averagea sturdy sort of man. Worked hard. And at home, a dog. He travelled alone or sometimes with his four-legged pal.

She was a charming girl with large, sad eyes. Once, someone asked her:
What cant you leave the house without?
A smile! she replied, and the dimples in her cheeks confirmed her answer.
For as long as she could remember, shed been better friends with boys. In the neighbourhood, theyd call her Pirate in a Skirt. But when she was on her own, she played a game: pretending to be a mum with a brood of children, a kind husband, and a big, cosy house surrounded by a rambling English garden.

He couldn’t imagine a life without sport. In the garage, trophies, medals, and certificates slept quietly in a box. He didnt know why he kept themperhaps out of respect for his parents, who still felt such pride. He often meant to bring them round. His first-place finishes werent for victorys sake; he just loved the challengeto be pushed to the edge, to reach that absolute fatigue, and then, somehow, to find himself revived again, catching a second wind.

Her parents died when she was about seven. Social services separated her and her younger brother, placing them in different care homes. Thats how they grew upfighting their battles, facing their own joys and sorrows. Those days of living under state roofs were behind them now. They lived across the street from each other, in a close-knit neighbourhood of low brick houses, warm lanes, colourful gardens, and farmers markets. Her brothers family were her dearest, and only, friends.

It was a tense day. Her shift had just ended. She walked through the car park. Old Mr. Evans caught up with her, hugged her like a father, and thanked her for the mince pies.
Get some sleep, will you?
Ill manage. She waved, kissed his cheek, and hurried to her car.
Oh, dear girl… sighed the ambulance driver as she walked away.
On holidays, they were often rostered togetherfew wanted to work the bank holidays, not even doctors.
The crew included two other men. The other medics didnt warm to her. She liked to keep tidy, look presentable; she knew the mood on the ward shifted when the doctor looked cheerful and well kept.

He was driving as fast as he dared. His sports trophies rattled in the boot, and the dog whined restlessly on the back seat. His father had suggested they spend New Years together. He loaded the box of medals into the car that very day. It cheered him: for once he wouldnt be working through the holidaysthough he did miss the lads at training and loved being a coach. Still, rare visits to his parents always made him feel a bittersweet ache. A few days before New Year, he was woken by the phone ringing at dawn.
Mums fallen ill. His fathers voice trembled. Even though his dad was a retired colonel, always stalwart, there was no hiding the worry. His parents had been together since school, and even now, in their golden years, they managed to look at each other like sweethearts. That spark in their eyes always amazed himit was as if they held some wonderful secret only they knew.

She smiled tiredly. Each year, just before New Years, she spent hours bakingand after her shift, delivered pies across town. That day, shed even managed a nap in the staffrooma condition insisted upon by old Mr. Evans who, otherwise, wouldnt have let her drive off and would have delighted in being her personal chauffeur, buzzing with the joy of her bashful smile.

Ten miles left to her parents cottage. Suddenly, a blizzard struck. He remembered, just hours before, how the dog had stubbornly refused to jump into the car, that clattering from the boot, the endless journeys, the roads upon roads… Mum, Dad, hold on youre all Ive got. The dog licked the back of his head, as if hed read his thoughts. Sorry, mateand of course, you too!

She eased off the accelerator. The blizzard was awfully untimely. One pie remained. Just a couple more miles into the country, then round the bend to a cottage where her favourite patient liveda spirited elderly woman (though it felt wrong to use the word; her sparkling eyes defied the years). And her husband wore the same vivid light in his gaze. A delightful, travel-loving couple. They never grumbled. She liked to think her own parents would have grown to be just like them.

A flash of black. Right in front of the car, against the endless white storm. Where had that dog come from? Out the woods, or was it lost? Such soulful eyes Why is her neck wet? Sticky? A soaked jumper Oh, just so tired JackJack, mate Why does it hurt so much Mum, Im coming, Dad, Im almost there Darkness

Couldnt get through to Mr. Evans. Hed gone to fetch the grandchildren. The ambulance wouldnt get through; the snow was too deep.
Hold on, lad there you go, bear with me, Ill get you out God and theres a dog too!
By then, she was pulling away in her car, as a grey hatchback tore past her.
Someones in a rush for home, she thought. Minutes later, she spotted the same car, overturned in a ditch. The black dog lay metres away, breathing, still alive.
Whats the time? she wondered. She never liked hot water, but tonight, the steaming shower thawed the shaking from her bones. She sat on the bathroom floor, shut her eyes, exhaled. If only she could sleep…

How did you manage to get him out? Strong as an ox! her brothers voice echoed in her mind, and every muscle seemed to remember the pain all over again.

She drove the man and the two dogs to hospital. Halfway there, her brother met them, lending a hand. That same day, she returned to the cottagedetermined to deliver the last pie. For some reason, she took the box from the boot of the grey car with her.
Might be worth something to the chap. What matters most is everyones alive. When he comes round, Ill return it.

The elderly gent opened the door, looking bewildered.
Has something happened? she blurted.
My wifes in hospital. Im about to visit her. My son never turned up. I cant reach him
She said nothing, lowered her head.
And youare you all right? he asked, taking her hand.
Shall I drive you? she offered quietly.

They made the journey in silence. The storm had passed.
I noticed a box in your back seat. Where did that come from? asked the colonel softly.
There was an accident. A man swerved to miss a black dog darting from the woods, his car overturned, the box fell from his boot
Grey car, white dog inside, but the black one came from the forest? His voice was barely a whisper.
She stopped the car, turned to face him. He clenched his fists, staring at the road.
Hes alive! And your wife will recover. She hugged him.
My dear girl May I call you that?
Of course, she nodded, her eyes brimming with tears.
For days now, my wife has had strange dreams about a black dog. My sons got a white one. I cant make sense of it all
Such beautiful, haunting eyes. That was his first clear thought as he began to wake. His father dozed in a chair beside the hospital bed.
Mum. The accident. It all came back. And the girls eyes

They celebrated New Year at the end of January. His mother was on the mend. His father was overjoyed. Jack, the white dog, still limped a little, but hed soon be bounding about again. Work waited in the city. The kids at the club needed coaching after their Christmas break, ready for the competitions. He lingered at his parents home longer than he meant. Thoughts of the girl lingered longer still.

He was about to set off when his father called from the attic window.
Dad, do you need a hand?
He found his father grinning slyly. And on a shelf, there were his sporting trophies.
Now, then Whered those come from, Colonel? he laughed.
Think about it!… Im off to walk Jack before you go.

She hurried home early. Dina would be waiting. She couldnt bear to leave her at the vets when she came tootherwise Dina wouldve ended up in a shelter. Dina wasnt pure blackshe had a white patch on her chest, shaped like a heart.

She entered the flat, almost on autopilot, barely glancing as she unlocked her post box. About to shut it, she glanced twice, seeing a white envelope.

Inside, the letter read:
Ill come by this evening. Thank you, my dear!
Love is a compass. It helps us find our way.

Reflecting on all this, I realised: sometimes, fate brings strangers and familiar souls together in the most unexpected ways. No matter the blizzard, kindness wins throughand it can change the course of our lives.