“Haywards Heath” is a short story by Aminatta Forna, published in her collection of short stories, “Happiness” in 2018. The story follows a woman named Abi, who is returning to her hometown of Haywards Heath after many years away.
Abi is a successful writer who has been living in America for several years. She has come back to Haywards Heath to visit her dying father, with whom she has had a strained relationship. As she walks through the familiar streets of her hometown, memories flood back to her, reminding her of the past and the people she has left behind.
One of the people she remembers is her childhood friend, Kate. Abi reflects on the closeness they once shared and how they grew apart over the years. She wonders if they could ever reconnect, but also feels a sense of guilt for leaving Kate behind and pursuing her own ambitions.
As she spends time with her father, Abi also reflects on their difficult relationship. Her father is a distant, reserved man who has never shown her much affection. Abi struggles to connect with him, but also feels a sense of obligation to be there for him in his final days.
Abi’s visit to Haywards Heath is also marked by a chance encounter with a man named Marcus. She meets him at a local café, and they strike up a conversation. Marcus is a painter who is working on a mural in the town, and Abi is immediately drawn to his passion and energy.
As Abi spends more time with Marcus, she begins to feel a sense of hope and possibility. She realizes that she has been living a life of isolation and disconnection, and that her visit to Haywards Heath has given her a chance to reconnect with her past and explore new possibilities for the future.
Forna’s “Haywards Heath” is a poignant and beautifully written story that explores themes of memory, identity, and connection. The story captures the sense of dislocation and disconnection that can come with success and achievement, as well as the possibility of redemption and renewal that can come from reconnecting with the past.
The character of Abi is complex and multifaceted, reflecting the many contradictions and conflicts that can arise in a person’s life. Through Abi’s experiences, Forna examines the complex dynamics of family relationships, friendships, and the search for meaning and purpose in life.
At its core, “Haywards Heath” is a story about the power of connection and the importance of being open to new experiences and perspectives. Forna’s lyrical prose and vivid descriptions of the town and its inhabitants create a vivid sense of place and atmosphere, capturing the essence of a small town in England and the people who call it home.
In the end, Abi’s journey back to Haywards Heath is a reminder of the importance of staying connected to our roots and the people who have shaped us. It is also a reminder of the transformative power of love and the possibility of finding joy and meaning in unexpected places. “Haywards Heath” is a beautiful and moving story that speaks to the universal human experience of searching for meaning and purpose in life.