The elderly lady shuffled the few remaining steps to the bench and sat down, happy to catch her breath and rest for a moment. The autumn sunshine was warm, but the nip in the air made her glad of her warm coat. She placed her handbag neatly on her knee. The view from the hill in front of the Sham Castle golf course overlooking Bath was spectacular on a morning like this.
She turned to the sound of a voice. “Good morning,” said a silver-haired gentleman at the other end of the bench. “Beautiful day.”
Alice smiled, rather sadly. “Yes, it is. Cold, but lovely.” The man folded his newspaper and returned the smile. “I’m Clarence.”
“Hello, Clarence. I’m Alice.” She re-arranged her scarf, her gnarled fingers struggling in the cold.
They sat for a few moments quietly, looking over the city. “I’ve always loved this view.” “Pardon?”
“The view,” Clarence repeated. “I’ve been coming here since I was a boy. I used to watch the trains coming into Bath.”
Alice looked to where Clarence was pointing, down the hill towards Bath, and the tracks leading west to Bristol.
“I liked the steam trains. Do you see?” He added. “Yes, I can see. No more steam trains now, though, I’m afraid. It was different, then.”
Clarence nodded. “It was. I’d travel the country. My family had no idea where I was half the time. It wasn’t like it is today.” He paused. “Do you have children?” “Yes, two. And grandchildren, now.”
“Then you’re blessed. What are their names?” Clarence turned to look at Alice, noticing her careworn face, the long, white plait that rested over her shoulder. “Timothy, is the eldest. He has two little ones of his own now.” Alice said, proudly. “Well, not so little now. They’ve grown and gone, too. I don’t get to see them as much as I’d like.” “I’ve always liked the name Timothy.”
Alice smiled. “And then there’s Kelly. She got married, finally, last year. She’s nearly sixty now, hard to believe it! Her wedding was a great event. She looked beautiful.”
Clarence sat back. ““Well, that’s lovely! I always wanted children.” Another few moments passed, both of the couple sitting quietly.
Alice looked over. “You can read your newspaper, Clarence. I don’t mind.”
“No, no. It’s okay. I don’t often get chance to chat. Especially with a beautiful woman“, he said, with a wink. Alice chuckled. “Charmer. I bet you broke some hearts. Did you grow up around here, then?”
“Yes,” replied Clarence. “Not far. And I went to school here, too. Kings…Kings… something.” He shook his head. “I forget.”
“Age does that to us, doesn’t it?” Alice said, softly. Clarence shrugged. “I guess it does.”
She sighed. “It takes away the most precious things. Our bodies, our minds, our memories.” They fell into quiet again, both looking at the City sprawled out before them, Bath Abbey standing proudly in the middle. They were both lost in their own thoughts.
“May I ask you something, Clarence?” Alice asked, quietly. He turned towards her again, smiling his agreement. “Have you ever married?” Clarence shook his head. “No, I never married. There was a lovely girl I knew… once. I can’t remember her name. Have you?”
“Yes. I was lucky enough to marry my best friend. The love of my life. It was wonderful. I’ve… lost him now. And it’s lonely. Terribly, terribly lonely.” Alice looked down at her lap. Clarence reached over and took her hand, tenderly. “I’m very sorry for your loss. How long ago?”
“Around five years ago. Nothing has been the same since.” Tears filled her once bright blue eyes. Alice’s eyes were cloudy now; age and sorrow had faded their beauty.
Clarence frowned. “That’s such a shame. Do you have anyone close?”
Alice shook her head. “They have their own lives. Timothy is abroad, Kelly is in Manchester. And I feel like all I ever do is cross my friends’ names out of my address book.” She paused. “Seems like they’re all gone.”
Clarence reached into his pocket for his handkerchief and offered it to her. “There, now. It’s okay.”
Alice managed a small smile. “Thank you.” She wiped her eyes. “It’s silly. You must think I’m an old fool, sitting on a bench, crying.” 
“Not at all.”
“Well I feel like an old fool. I should be glad of what I have. I’m still here, my children are happy and healthy. And solvent. And they have their own children, all healthy. You were right, I have been blessed.”
Clarence looked puzzled. “What?”
“A minute ago, you said I was blessed. For having my children.”
“Oh, that’s right.” He shook his head. “I’m more forgetful, the older I get.”
Alice tried to pass the handkerchief back, but Clarence refused. “Keep it, I have plenty.”
“Okay, I will. Thank you.” She opened her handbag and tucked the handkerchief inside. She snapped it shut again. “It’s a funny old life, Clarence, don’t you think?”
He tilted his head, not understanding. “In what way?”
“I just… can’t believe I’m here. At the end of my life. And what do I really have to show for it? I don’t feel any different than I did ten years ago. Twenty years ago, even”. She sighed. “It all feels so… pointless.”
Clarence cleared his throat. “I don’t know how to help you with that one, I’m afraid,” he said, a little uncomfortably.
“I know, Clarence. I don’t expect answers. I just wanted to say it out loud.” Quiet fell again.
“I used to take the trains, you know. All around the country.”
“Yes. You said.”
Clarence laughed. “I did?”
Alice smiled, indulgently. “Yes. And your parents didn’t know.”
“Not a clue. Not like today.”
“No, Clarence. It isn’t like today at all.”
Clarence turned to look at her. “Do you know, you seem really familiar. The way you say my name. Have we met before?”
Alice sighed, and reached for the handkerchief again. “Yes, Clarence. We have met.”
Clarence frowned.
“And it’s time we went home. This cold is getting right into my bones. Don’t think I’ve got enough layers on.”
Clarence continued to frown. He seemed about to say something, but didn’t.
“Come on. I’ve got a roast in the oven. And then it’s time for the racing. You like the racing.” She stood, stiffly, then held her hand out. She smiled, encouragingly. “Come on, Clarence. Home time.”
Clarence stood, still frowning. “Home?”
“Yes, sweetheart. Home. And we can ring Tim later and see him on the screen. Remember?”
Clarence nodded slightly and stood.
“Don’t forget your paper.”
The elderly couple walked away from the park bench where they had sat every Sunday morning for the past fifty years, hand in hand, back to the house where they had raised their children. Empty now, thought Alice, as she led her husband back through the park. Entirely empty.