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Imagine. It was one of Billie’s favourite words. It summed up one of her favourite pastimes – daydreaming, conjuring up ideas and images that had little to do with reality. One of the reasons why she loved it so much was that she associated the word with her Pop, who, despite being a straight-laced retired accountant, had a soft spot for the song. He hummed it as he went about his rose garden, fending off aphids and pruning his precious plants. Her Pop liked to tease Billie about her ability to simplify drift off in her mind, to be physically present but mentally somewhere quite different. She liked to remind him that reality was usually over-rated.

She glanced at her phone, now resting in her lap. It was the message from her sister which had her lost in thought. ‘Catch up at the café? Have some Really Big News.’

It was the capitalisation that had alerted her to the fact that something out of the ordinary must be happening in Ella’s life. Often her texts were a bewildering mix of words and emojis, and more than once Billie had misinterpreted the message. It was the absence of images that also made Billie wonder what was going on in her younger sister’s life. They’d drifted apart recently, both more caught up in their lives and moving in different circles.

Ella was running late, so after finding a table at their local café, Billie sat back and closed her eyes. What could Ella’s news be? She’d been working on a textile project as part of her course work for her art degree. Maybe it was going to be nominated for a prize or an award? Ella had seemed to inherit most of the available creative genes in their family. Billie had been drawn to more theoretical and esoteric studies, while Ella was more practically minded.

The door bounced open and with a flurry of colour and movement, Ella spun into the café. Billie grinned up at her, taking in the bold clashing colours of her outfit. Ella bent down and hugged Billie tight, bestowing a loud kiss on her cheek before sitting opposite her.

‘It’s finally happened!’ Ella was grinning back at Billie and her energy was infectious.

‘What has?’ Billie was still thinking through the intermittent updates that Ella sent, conjuring up a range of photos and images in her mind, but nothing that explained her sister’s euphoria.

‘My big break! I’ve been asked to put together a collection for an exhibition at The Hive.’

‘In the city?’

‘That’s the one!’

‘That’s amazing, El. How did that come about? When’s it on? Do you know what you’ll have in the collection?’

Ella tipped her head back and laughed in delight. Billie reached a hand out and Ella gripped it tightly. ‘I knew you’d get it, Billie. Here, let me show you what I’ve been working on. And you’ll love the name of the show.’

‘What is it?’

Ella smiled. ‘Imagine.’

This piece was written to a prompt on the Writer’s Digest website. The Loop: write a story where the first word is also the last word.

Photo: sculpture outside Mona Vale library