The Haar

by David Sodergren

“Young people have to leave the past behind if they ever wish to grow up,” she said. Since Billy’s death, Muriel had made a habit of talking to herself. It kept the cottage from getting too quiet, especially on the long winter nights. She gazed at a photo of her and Billy, taken on their wedding day. “Whereas old farts like ourselves have nothing but the past.”

Apparently, laws don’t apply to the rich.

Progress waited for no one.

A man with no respect for nature was the worst type of man.

“Life goes on,” she whispered. “For better or worse, life goes on.”

“You’re rotten,” she said. “Both of you. Just like that Grant, you’re rotten to the core. Well, you’ll get what’s coming to you.”

If time had any common decency, it would stop altogether and leave them frozen in this one perfect moment for all eternity.

That’s what life is. A series of mistakes you learn from.”