Metempsychosis

 

I’m not sure how old I was at the time but there came a point where family finances improved and my parents decided they’d like to move house.

I was vaguely aware that they’d been viewing potential homes but not much more than that. One day, my mother said they were going to a second viewing and would we like to come.

Dad drove us to a corner house of grey and cream brick. It had a cross gable roof. Its main door was set into the side and opened into a narrow hallway running perpendicular. You felt like you were walking into the hall wall.

My brother and father walked through. My mother was slower. I just stood there. I felt like I’d been there before. There was an immediate recognition.

My mum realised I wasn’t behind her and turned to find me still standing by the door. She asked me what was the matter. I told her I’d been here before and then itemised the layout. She must’ve realised I was serious as she didn’t question me even though she knew I’d never been there before.

Seeing I was experiencing something unsettling, she suggested we go see the garden. There was a narrow strip from the back door before the garden opened up and the garden path started properly. 

I was a couple of yards ahead of my mother when right before me, I saw her. A very young girl was sat cross legged on the path playing with something. She had waist length wavy blonde hair as I’d had at her age. She was wearing a dress with a white, ruffled pinafore over it. I had a strong sense that i was looking at myself but from another era.