The road unwinds before me . My husband is no longer here . But I will continue . I bear witness for both of us . I remain . Mother , grandmother , sister , aunt , friend , teacher , leader , healer , warrior and seer … But also still The Maiden .
" Say Yes ," says the voice . And I know I will .
I open my eyes . The woman has vanished . But I am here …
Her daughter is moving swi ly along the beach towards her - taut muscles , anxious smile , a flare of panic in those normally laughing eyes . Between them , her small grand-daughter splashes through the water dressed in rash-suit and t-shirt , reaching forward to catch her hand .
" There you are , Nanna . Why didn ' t you wake us ? Mum was worried . We would have come for a walk with you ."
The currents are strong . Waves lap up to the child ' s hip . Instinctively , she pulls the girl shore-ward a pace or two .
" I ' m sorry , Darling . I ' m alright . I just needed some time alone . In my special place ." She makes a little gesture at her surroundings .
" But what were you doing , Nanna ?"
" Oh , I was just thinking . This is where I ' ve always come to think . Since I was your age ." She bends to kiss the top of the tousled head . The child clings to her legs .
Her daughter arrives , anxiety visible and simmering . " Mum ," she says , weakly .
She holds out her arms , invincible again . " I ' m sorry , love . I couldn ' t sleep . I was just ... re-setting ."