Competition Thirty-Five Shortlisted: Coloured Glass by Meagan Neil
Vila stood beside her father as the bells began, echoing across the rooftops. The coffin moved first, carried by men she had known all her life. Her hands were clasped so tightly her nails dug crescents deep into her palms.
She had never seen the street so full. Neighbours, shopkeepers, women from the market with scarves tied neatly beneath their chins. Men bowed their heads as the coffin passed. Windows were open, curtains drawn back. Some crossed themselves; others simply watched in silence.
Her mother had belonged to them all, it seemed.
Vila walked behind the pallbearers, her black shoes clicking softly against the cobblestones. The scent of lilies drifted in and out with the wind. Her father walked ahead, his head bowed beneath the weight of both loss and duty. His grey hair, usually combed back with careful precision, had fallen loose around his temples. Vila matched her breath to his, steadying herself.
At the Church of Saint Nicholas, the crowd thinned. Inside, incense clung to her hair and clothes, heavy and sweet. Light filtered through the coloured glass, softening the edges of everything. The priests’ voices rose and fell in rhythm, ancient words echoing in the vaulted hush.
Vila tried to follow the prayers, but all she could hear was her mother’s laughter. All she could see were her mother’s hands, warm and alive.
When the choir began, Luka’s hand found hers. And in that moment, Vila understood how far her mother’s kindness had reached, carried quietly in those who remembered.
Meagan Neil is an emerging writer and secondary teacher of 26 years based in Victoria, Australia. Her work explores quiet moments of human connection, memory, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary lives, with a particular focus on historically grounded fiction shaped by place, language, and family. She is currently developing a novel inspired by her grandmother’s resilience during the displacements of wartime Europe. When she is not teaching or writing, she can be found hiking, exploring country towns, or planning her next trip. She lives with her fiancé, three stepchildren, and two very spoilt ragdoll cats.
Original photo by Argo Navis via Wikimedia Commons
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