The Spark of Life

The Spark of Life, by Sara Marie Hogg, is a piece of short fiction that may soon appear in a volume of short stories of the same title, ten or so eerie tales.
The main character, Edna-mae Kinkead, a widow, is comfortable in her 1960s life as a country gentlewoman. She has grown very fond of her peaceful, bucolic existence. She has one bad quirk--she seems to be obsessed with the physical appearances of the actors playing on her television set. Some of the shows are re-runs, and the actors are now long gone, have met their maker. Edna-mae becomes consumed with trying to see their impending deaths visible on their faces as she watches them daily in re-runs and old movies. Is there a clue to their declining health? Is it evident on their faces, ahead of time, that they will soon meet their fates? Edna-mae is convinced she will be able to see this if she watches them long enough. She then becomes perturbed and frustrated when her normal routine is interrupted by an acquaintance coming to call--one she does not particularly like. She tries to be an accommodating hostess, nonetheless to the persnickity Belva Thoroughgood, woman of the world.