House Of Stone

[Charlie Stone]

Charlie felt Amy shiver slightly as they hugged and was therefore not suprised when she stepped away from him in the direction of the door. Quickly wiping his eyes and cheeks, he attempted to smile weakly and picked up his bags. "It's fine, really" he said in response to Amy's comment as he made his way forward into the house.

Charlie didn't pay much attention to Amy's next comment as he was looking round inside the house. Slowly he began the walk down the darkened corridor, with old fashioned looking lamps on either side of the hall. He presumed they must be lit, but given the circumstances, the house had remained in darkness, reflecting the mood of those inside.

He wasn't sure which way he was supposed to be going, but given that Amy wasn't telling him not to go that way, he carried on walking forwards. It wasn't long until he reached a door on his right, in which he looked in to find a large, almost farm house kitchen. Retreating, he continued to walk along the corridor, seeing shut doors on his left. Eventually he reached a room, now beginning to fill with light, and a man asleep in the armchair next to the fire. Quietly he stepped into the room, looking around.

There were pictures everywhere. Pictures of Amy, Amy and their dad, their whole family. He smiled, thinking how lovely it was in comparison to his minimalistic house in Australia, bare and unwelcoming.

Very quietly he put his bag down and sat on the sofa, still looking round the room, and thinking of all the memories it must have held previously.

 

[Callum Stone]

Callum shifted slightly in his sleep, thinking he heard a faint knocking sound. He was in a very light sleep, and was slowly becoming aware of his surroundings. He heard someone pad down the Hallway to open the door and listened, to see if he could make out who it was.

Callum didn't want to open his eyes, to wake up, to move from the position he was in. He felt relaxed as he was, and knew that by opening his eyes, would mean opening his mind and heart, to the grief that flooded the house.

After a while, the door shut again, and he heard footsteps, more than one set this time, but still he did not open his eyes. He heard someone move into the room, apparently just standing there. Callum now began to feel slightly puzzled, and slowly began to open his eyes, as the person in the room began to sit down.

When he opened his eyes he was temporarily blinded by the light that was filling the room. Holding up his hand to his face, he shielded his eyes from the light and looked at the person sitting down. His face fell, it was as if his brother was sitting there.He sat bolt up right, and it was only then that he really began to acknowledge just who it was sitting there.

The person was visibly younger, with a different build. But the eyes and hair were identical, and it was then that it clicked.Charlie he thought. Slowly he rose to his feet, and moved over to where he was sitting. Callum saw the emptiness in his eyes, the pale face which Callum himself had been experiancing. He held out his hand to Charlie, unsure as to what else to do. "Hi Charlie, I'm Callum" he all but whispered, almost feeling as if his voice would not work for him. "Your uncle" he added, unsurely at the end.

 

[Charlie Stone]

Charlie's attention had been diverted by a shadow falling upon him. Looking up he saw someone standing directly in front of him, too tall to be Amy. He jumped up quickly, not wishing to be rude.

He listened as the person introduced themselves, and suddenly it made sense. He wasn't sure what to say, so merely shook Callums hand. "I'm so sorry" was all he managed to say, as fresh tears began to slowly make their way down his cheeks.

Charlie quickly wiped them away, unsure as to what he should do next.