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 I decided to see if I could write 52 stories again! |
| I met him in a cemetery. Where had he found a blue rose? Except for it being so unusual, I wouldn't have cared. As it was it made for an easy way to approach him. I'd meant to visit my grandma's grave. Yet this heart break wearing a raincoat stood there like an Adonis statue. I couldn't focus on anything but him and the flower in his hand. Oh no; He must have seen me gawking! His eyes seemed to pull me into inescapable depths. "Funny, most people just come here to mourn," he said. "You've been watching me for quite a while. What do you find so fascinating?" Think of something! Think! I pleaded with my brain. My mouth went into yammer mode. "I, um, don't see blue roses very often," I admitted. "It's very pretty. Then I noticed how beautiful the man holding it was. I'm sorry I'll leave you be—" He caught one of my hands in his strong but gentle grip as I turned to leave. "Don't apologize," he said. "Many commented on my good looks. That was years ago. It's nice to know I still have some charm. Do you like flowers?" "I suppose so," I gasped as he gently placed the rose in my hand. "I didn't need...this was for? Um, thank you? I think?" He smiled and brought my hand up to his lips, giving it a kiss. "A lady as fine as you is worth this treasure," he said. "May I invite you to see my garden where I grew this jewel toned bloom?" That threw an error code in my brain. "We don't hardly know each other," I said. "We're practically strangers! Shouldn't we at least know each other's names?" He let off a deep rich chuckle. It sounded so warm that I could feel myself relaxing. "Mea culpa," he said. "My name is Ethan Fellows. What do they call you? Are you Nix, Aphrodite or Persephone?" I blushed, he compared to Greek goddesses; how charming. "I'm afraid I'm just Elise Hathorn," I said as I brushed the hair away from my face. Ethan scribbled an address and phone number onto a scrap of paper. "This is my contact information," he told me. "Call me if you decide you want to see the wonders of my garden, Elise." He walked to his black Audi and drove away. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as he disappeared through the gates. Leaving me standing alone. I read the name on the paper. It just happened to have the same name as was on the nearby grave stone. A shiver came over me. Probably a coincidence; there was no way it was the same Ethan. The person buried there had been dead for the last fifty years. I put the very much alive Ethan's contact info into my phone. "Shit!" I'd just noticed the time. I'd promised my best friend, Nami, that we'd meet for drinks in half an hour. It was all the way across town! I blew a kiss to my grandmother before speeding off. I arrived at the bar and scanned the room looking for Nami. She spotted me first and waved me over. I set my purse on the floor. "Sorry, I'm late," I said as I slid into the empty chair. "No big deal," she said. "Had to do some last minute stuff at work?" "Actually I met someone," I answered. I explained about the chance encounter with Ethan and the offer he'd made. Her eyes cast downward, her lips pressed together. "Okay what?" I asked. "Is there something wrong with meeting guys in graveyards now? It's not like I dug him up or anything." Nami still didn't meet my gaze. "Not exactly," she said. "Just reminds me of a really old story my grandma used to tell me. There's a type of ghost that mimics an attractive person. Once someone falls for its deception they become obsessed and eventually the victim dies sometime later. Your story reminded me of that legend." Ghosts weren't real. "No way," I said. "there has to be another reason why Ethan's name matches the guy on the tombstone. It has to be his dad or grandpa. At the very worst he's actually a conman." Suddenly Nami was looking right at me. "I really don't think you should see Ethan again," she stated. "Even if he's perfectly ordinary, I have a bad feeling about this, Elise." I let out a breathy sigh. "We're almost forty," I told her. "my mom's been nagging me about giving her grandkids for ages now! Ethan seems perfectly nice. If I promise to be careful and call you after our dates will you stop worrying?" "No, but I won't keep you from following your heart," Nami promised. We settled up our tab and went our separate ways. I drove to my home. Thank god I'd stopped at one drink. This way I wouldn't have an accident or make a fool of myself in a moment. I dialed Ethan's number. He picked up after a couple of rings. "Ethan Fellow speaking," his voice answered. "Hi, it's Elise, from this afternoon. Remember me?" I could hear the smile and warmth as he responded. "I was hoping to hear from you. Did you make up your mind?" Shoving all my doubts out of the way I decided. "I'd love to see your garden." That was the beginning. Everything seemed normal enough. I called Nami after each encounter I had with Ethan. She still didn't approve. One night, when the moon was barely a crescent hiding among the stars, things changed. "You look tired," Ethan observed. "Are you feeling all right?" I shook my head and sat carefully on a stone bench between the lovely rose bushes that Ethan had carefully tended. "It's probably just burning the candle at both ends," I guessed. Ethan looked at me; his eyes glistened and a frown was on his face as he put one arm around me. "Oh gods I'm so sorry. I haven't been honest," he said. My mouth gaped a little. "What are you talking about?" Had he been in the cemetery that afternoon to steal an identity? I was such a fool. I thought I'd found real love? Pathetic. "Just listen," Ethan pleaded. "I died over a century ago, I can't explain what's going on exactly. All I know is I'm trapped here as a spirit entity because of a regret." "What was that?" I spat. "That you didn't trick enough people into giving you their money?" Ethan winced as if I'd slapped his face. "No, I just never found love while I was alive," he said. "I died in my mid thirties from brain cancer. I'd pushed every one away after my diagnosis and passed away without anyone who cared." Who would make up that kind of tragedy? I sat churning my brain. There was nothing to gain from telling me this. He seemed so honest and genuine. Maybe he was some earth bound spirit. "Well you certainly won my heart," I couldn't meet his eyes. "I'm so sorry. What do you need from me." He looked almost ready to embrace me or break into tears. "Thats the trouble, I love you. I can't make you do what needs to be done for us to be together," he admitted. Fear made my lips and throat dry. Did I really want to know the answer to the question I was going to ask? "I don't care what it is," I said. "Tell me how we can make our love last." "You must walk through death's door," he said. "After you have made vows in front of my grave, you must use a knife to slit your wrists. According to the reapers I have met that is the only way." I could only guess that this was a clue Angels of Death were also a thing. It was completely terrifying. I'd basically have to die to be with this tragic, noble man. Yet I couldn't imagine life without Ethan. A few nights later the cold winter air turned my last breaths to clouds. "I promise to cherish you forever, to never stray from your side and leave all else behind." I closed my eyes as I raised the knife to my wrist. Its hungry blade gnawed my flesh with hot teeth. I repeated the process with my other side. Tears and blood splashed into the snow tarnishing the virginal white field. Word count 1420 |
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