HIDDEN TREASURES 

By Tessa Harvey


    Jess turned away from gran's grave, leaving the open ground to be filled with the piled-up earth, mixed-dark loam and hard clay. Janice had just pulled away with a final hug and wave. Exams were again looming for her and she had offered to collect all the work this week for Jess to catch up on her study.
    It was a miserable drizzly day and rain mingled with her tears. It seemed so final. She was alone, God forgotten.
    The wet ground was uneven and the young woman stumbled. A stranger's arms gripped her firmly, holding her close - too close. Looking up she saw a familiar face - Simon! "So," he said with the familiar South African accent, almost gloating, "poor little Jess, all alone and unwanted. Well, I do not let go."
    Jess tried to pull away, trying to focus on her friend's turquoise mini. It was disappearing with a final beep of the horn, lost in looming mist.
    Simon gripped her tighter. "I am here," he whispered, "your only real friend. Even that runt of a medic has gone."
    "Excuse me," came a calm, deep voice. "This is that runt of a medic. He grabbed Simon's jacket hard. "Be gone, weasel! On your bike!"


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