Bruar's Rest

will part us, do you hear me, nothing. Soon we’ll be chasing the grouse among the wild beauty of our glens, beneath Scotland’s blue-grey skies.’
    He sat motionless, staring at the floor as though a chilly morning frost covered him. For an age she held him, kissed and stroked his hair. ‘My boy, oh my dear silent love, soon this will be a bad memory and you’ll smile again, tell tales of those Vikings. Wait and see, I’m going now to get that doctor. He can please himself, but you and me, we are getting off home.’
    His dead face and listless body would have sent many in tears from the room, but they made her more determined. ‘Sandy told me what state you were in on that bloody beach. I know you can’t recognise me, but one day soon you will. We’ll walk upon the cliff tops at Durness with the wind blowing through this blonde hair of yours. These eyes will see again. I feel it, I promise it will happen.’
    His hand fell limp from her grasp as his empty eyes continued staring into nothingness. Yet how warm his body felt as she pressed herself into his. How sweet was the aroma of his flesh; this was their heaven.
    Sandy and the doctor were thoughtful enough to give her plenty of time, but she so wished it would stand still. Time, however, will not be halted, and soon the door was opening into her world, intruding on their privacy.
    ‘Mrs Stewart, as you can see this is only a shell of the man you once knew. When young wives come here and see their husbands’ condition it seems to paint a clearer picture of where their future lies. I feel now that you too will be of this mind.’
    ‘Oh do you now? Well, I have news for you, Doctor, sir, but my man walks and hears and sees. He eats and no doubt can piss. As far as I’m concerned that’ll do for starters. Can his belongings be brought together? I’m taking him home.’
    Sandy closed his hands over hers and shook his head. The doctor said that under no circumstances could Bruar leave the premises, he was unable to function in the wider world.
    She pulled her hands free and wrapped them round Bruar’s neck. ‘Look, I will not leave my man here, not after all this time, all the searching, you ask the impossible.’
    Sandy closed the door. He was all too aware that Doctor Cunningham had positioned two male nurses outside and was about to call them in. He’d spent enough time with Bruar to know the mind of this couple; he’d try and make the doctor see sense. ‘Would it make a difference if I told you that he was a tinker, and, in the eyes of society, worthless? I feel the board would take a dim view of this model asylum housing vermin.’
    Megan could see what Sandy was trying to do, so gave him a hand. ‘Aye doctor, wait until he starts shitting in that nice disinfected corner. And tearing the feathers out of those fine pillows on that bed and stuffing them through the window bars. Imagine what passers-by will say. My God, man, this place might get shut down if it’s discovered such a filthy person is taking a room, paid for no doubt by the King’s good purse, or is it those kind officers’ wives?’
    ‘Listen, both of you, this man has been under my care for some time, and has never shown anything other than impeccable behaviour.’
    ‘Just wait, though, he’ll change, us dirty tinkers always do. Like old dogs we don’t bother licking ourselves; the smell will be awful.’ Megan was clutching at every excuse to allow her man to be freed.
    ‘But maybe I could get him transferred to Scotland, would you accept that?’ Doctor Cunningham was beginning to see sense.
    Megan shook her head. ‘Give him back his freedom, sir,’ she begged. ‘Let us go home to the hillside, and I promise nothing will be heard or seen of us again.’
    The doctor sat on Bruar’s bed and thought long and hard before saying, ‘Well, I certainly could do with the room. The Army Wives Committee is always looking for spaces, there are plenty more unfortunates needing a bed.’
    Megan felt her knees weaken; she sat close to Bruar clasping her hands together and gave thanks. Sandy retrieved a small suitcase from under the bed and began packing what few possessions Bruar had. They were going home. It had taken so much time, yet at long last Scotland was only a few hours away.

     
    At the station on the platform Bruar stood between his wife and Sandy, each linking an arm. ‘I have been so swept up with things I forgot to ask, but where you are from?’ said