Haunting Echoes
2 – Sarah
As Sarah drew the curtains across the windows of
Clarrie’s studio bedroom, she wondered why she went
through the ritual of opening them every morning and
then shutting them again as she went to bed. It was no
use trying to kid herself – she missed her daughter and
doing something for her was just an excuse to feel a
little closer. Clarinda’s commissions often took her
away for the odd day or two, but it was not often that
she took off for a few weeks to paint for her own
pleasure – able to stop when she felt like it: not
planning far ahead. It worried Sarah, but Clarinda was
quite good about keeping in touch and rang up
whenever she changed location.
A few hours earlier when the sky darkened, Sarah
reflected that her daughter must have finished work
for the day and, almost immediately, she was plunged
into a mood as black as the night. The sensation was
only momentary and with her usual optimism, she
decided that there was no reason to connect it to
Clarinda. Her psychic sense was so finely tuned that
she was always susceptible to attempts at contact from
the spirit world. Constantly wary, in spite of being an
experienced medium, Sarah started and finished every
day with a prayer for guidance and sought protection
from evil. Her faith had to be kept strong; if it were not,
how could she offer comfort to others. For a few
minutes, before leaving the studio and going to bed,
Sarah concentrated hard on her daughter and sensed
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