It was getting dark when they allowed them to take the body from the cross. They had waited all day even though the man had died within minutes of being nailed in position.

They paid the guard to let them take him for burial as was expected. He had seen a lot of crucifixions recently. The emperor had decreed that these ‘Christians’ were traitors and as such hundreds had been thrown to the lions in the arena. Others had been burned as torches at the side of the street. The leaders had been crucified.

This one was similar to all the others except for a few small details. He had been old, probably about sixty. Even so he was a big, powerful man and yet he had died within minutes – no sport for the crowd. The other thing was that he had been crucified upside down. Apparently he was the head of the sect and the Emperor had decided to humble them even further by crucifying their leader in a more humiliating position. His clothes had hung from his waist exposing everything to public gaze.

Yet he had smiled as he died. Strange people these Christians!

They carried the body away in the dark for burial in the catacombs. Mark supported his aunt physically by the arm, though in truth she was the one providing the moral support for everyone there. There was a serenity about her that precluded pity even though it was her own husband who had just been executed. Rachel had planted one gentle kiss on Simon’s cold forehead and then waited for the burial to be completed and a prayer to be said before inviting everyone back to the house she was staying in.

When they arrived she excused herself and went to lie down. Looking round the room it was cool but friendly. It had been provided, by the brothers in Rome, for their use but it could never compare with her home in Bethsaida. She could hear the voices outside her door muted, trying not to disturb her, and smiled.

She thought back over her life. Mark and his friends had asked her about her memories of Simon, of Jesus and the others and she had shared much, or at least as much as she wanted them to know. They didn’t really want to know about her anyway, only about Jesus and his twelve disciples. Now she thought of her youth and her time with Simon, which had ended today at least in a physical sense.

She thought over the terrible events of the day. He had been in agony when their eyes had met. He had tried to be brave for her as she had tried to be brave for him. It had taken all her strength but she had asked for help and it was there. Peace had come to her and she could see that Simon recognised it. That was when he smiled knowing that Jesus’ promise was being fulfilled. He hadn’t spoken but she heard him anyway – “Now, at last, I can hear the cock crow in peace.”

God had been good to her and she had His promise. Indeed it only echoed the one she had made on her wedding day – “Where you go, I will follow”. She had followed, all the way, and now she was going to be with him forever. Still, it was good to look back, over a life, which had had its moments, while she waited to join him…………