She never came to Sunday service without wearing her blue hat. Always the same shade. Never the same design.
The one she wore that morning had a delicate blue feather that moved gently whenever she turned her head as the choir sang Amazing Grace.
After every service, she stood beside the pastor and blessed everyone who walked past. “Bless you.” “God be with you.”
People always left smiling. Then one Sunday, she was not there. Nor the next. Three Sundays passed.
As usual, I searched the congregation for the blue hat, but all I saw were wigs and colourful hats that belonged to everyone else.
After the third Sunday, I walked over to the pastor. “I wanted to ask about the woman with the blue hat.”
He smiled. “Oh, Mrs Hades? She’s right there.”
I looked across the room. She was standing there in a yellow hat with flowers on it. No blue.
Only then did I realise I had recognised her hat every week. Never her face.
I walked over. She smiled. “God be with you.”