Not In Heaven

I ran to the crag. Mia was approaching the edge. Two more steps, she would have fallen right into the sea. My voice shook. ‘Mia, sweetie, come back. It’s cold out here.’ I moved towards her, trembling in the wind. Mia turned back. Her face was streaked with tears. ‘I saw Mummy.’ I swallowed hard. ‘Mia, honey, listen, your mother has gone to heaven. She’s not here.’ Mia shook her head. ‘She was here. I talked to her.’ I resisted the urge to rub my arms, which were covered by goosebumps. ‘Okay. Maybe she was. But she’s not here right now. She wouldn’t want you to be cold, would she? Could you come here, please?’ Mia had a dazed look on her face. She turned back to look out at the dark sea. ‘Mummy. Mummy!’ Her right hand was outstretched, as if reaching for an invisible arm. I tiptoed over when she wasn’t paying attention, and clamped both arms around her waist, yanking her back. She screamed and kicked out. We both fell to the ground. I hit my back against the hard rock, but all I felt w