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THE SHORTCUT
Fiona Michie takes a
walk on the wild side

Maggie Brown was late in leaving the local barn dance, down at John Macintyre’s farm. Instead of taking the main road home at her mother’s request, Maggie took the short cut, through the woods. As she made her way along the woodland path, Maggie heard weeping.
     Drawing her jacket collar into her neck, images of who it could be rushed through her mind. Suddenly the vision of her mother in a distraught state, flashed before her eyes. Consumed by guilt she called out her mother’s name. In the next instance Maggie saw the image of a woman, facing away from her wearing a beautiful dress. The likes of which she had only seen in old photographs.
As the wind whipped through Maggie’s hair making it cascade over her face she grabbed at it forcing it back over her ear in an attempt to stop it impeding her view. It was then that she noticed the dress appeared to be lifeless.
She knew something was wrong.
     Crashing through the kitchen door Maggie’s mother jumped up from her chair and cried out, ‘Where have you been?’
     ‘I walked through the woods, I know I shouldn’t have...’
     ‘Did you see her face?’ asked her mother anxiously.
     ‘No I just ran away. But her dress, mother, her dress!’
     Maggie’s mum sat her down and made her a sweet cup of tea.
     Then told her daughter the tale of the blue lady, who wonders through the woods, searching for her lost love. She did not tell her daughter however, how lucky she had been to have not seen the lady’s face or explain to her that looking into her eyes would have prophesed her own death.

Fiona Michie is an Edinburgh based artist.
www.fionamichie.com

 

Fiona Michie, 'The Shortcut'
2008, pastel and charcoal
on paper. 125x46cm