A Horse Walking Backward

Belfast, Northern Ireland.
He stood there, towering above her. He inspected himself in the mirror, standing as if on parade, resplendent in his dark blue police officer’s uniform, the RUC badge shining brightly on his collar.
She looked up at her father. She sensed his love. It was a sharing love, love for her, her mother and her siblings. Although she knew the answer, she asked him, “Are you going to work now Da?”
He looked down at his nine-year-old daughter, wearing her grey school blaz...