Brian sat by the window. He had sat there every day for the last five years, ever since his wife’s passing. How he missed her, but that was life. At 89 years of age they had a good 50 years together before the cancer took her away. He was over that now. He had no children and even when his wife was alive he didn’t mix well. His wife was popular in the village and was always popping out to see someone or to nip to the shop. Now she was gone there was nobody.

He loved his seat by the window. Even when his wife was here, he would sit and while away the day. He looked out over the village green, with its oaks and horse chestnuts dotted about. The little duck pond and the play area where single mums took their kids for the swings and the slide. Several mums would gather and sit on the wooden trestle table chatting, no doubt about the soaps or Strictly, while their offspring ran, chased, laughed, and fought.

The view was wonderful. Not only was he watching the world and their dog but nature as well. He adored every season. 

Winter for the frosts, trees bare and resting. The partially frozen pond which the ducks would use to slide. The children fully wrapped up,  protected from the chill wind. Sometimes there was snow making the scene magical. There would always be a snowman or two, mostly snow but part mud stained snow, with twigs for arms and stones making the eyes, nose and mouth.

Spring bought new life, snowdrops first, then the daffs and daisies. It was a sign that all was well. Soon there would be ducklings following their mums and learning the ropes of paddling, diving for food and the tricky skill of flying and landing! Trees in bud and birds hunting twigs for spring nests.

Summer was when everyone seemed so happy. Playing in shorts and running faster than last year. Chasing the ducks without falling in the pond as mothers quacked frantically for the chicks to run. Leaves on the trees and visiting migrating birds arriving. The sun casting shadows and warming the earth.

Autumn brought colour, coppers and golds as the leaves turned ready to relinquish the last hold on the branch. They had done their job and sustained the tree with life breath. Children hunted for conkers. Soon everything would return to a dormant state and frosts would return.

No matter the season there was footfall, village life moving on and Brian could see everyone going about their business. Often they would look and wave. Brian, of course, waved back. This was the way it was now. Monday, Shirley would call by with some lunch and Brenda with his dinner. Both ladies would stay and chat making sure he was alright. Tuesday was the District Nurse mid morning for a check, blood pressure, heart rate and cutting his nails if they needed doing. Wednesday saw Trevor and Josh. They would come to spend an hour or so talking about football and politics. Brian didn’t like them much and he never liked football although he was not so ill mannered to mention it to them. Thursday would bring Shirley back again and then Friday Trish came round with my shopping. She would take a list of shopping for the following week. Weekends saw no-one.

Brian did enjoy the company and the people keeping an eye on him. He felt that the community spirit had grown over the past 12 months or so. People were once more looking out for their neighbours the elderly and vulnerable. Humanity seemed to be returning to the village. Previously, he supposed, everyone was just too busy with their own lives. Going to work looking after their own homes and families but seemingly having no time for other members of the community. 

The first four years following the death of his wife had been entirely different. Brian was in mourning and lonely. No one came to visit. No one inquired as to his welfare. No one seemed to care. He had his window and his seat. That was his only interaction with the world other than to go and get his own shopping when he could be bothered. Even then he didn’t communicate with other villagers and nobody tried to engage him in conversation.

As he sat at his chair looking out of the window he often thought about things. He recalled his youth and community spirit following the war but that all seemed to disappear in the 70s and 80s and certainly for the last 20 years was non existent. Then a new virus emerged. It caused the world to stop. The selfish hunt for greed and materialism was replaced with the new dawn. The government forced people to stay at home. Their wages were cut as they were furloughed. No longer could they go on holiday abroad or indeed anywhere. The result was the world became much smaller and communities reformed and were reborn. It was due to the virus that people were visiting Brian and looking out for him.

Notwithstanding all the people that died Brian thought the virus had positives. It had taught people what was really important, family, community. It had given the earth a year off from the torment inflicted by people and allowed it a chance to partially heal. One thing was clear the virus has certainly made Brian’s life better and for that he was thankful.