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Unresurrected by Patrick M Brown
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Not rated by the Author.
UnResurrected is a short story, para-normal romance that takes the reader on a life after death experience. We have all wondered what lies beyond and whether or not our sins will follow us and affect our final outcome. Follow Susan's journey as she struggles with her afterlife, her relationships, and her sins.
“Un-Resurrected”
Patrick M. Brown
Somewhere, in desolate, wind-swept space,
In twilight land, in no man’s land,
Two hurrying shapes met face to face
And bade each other stand.
“And who are you?” cried one, a-gape,
Shuddering in the glimmering light.
“I know not,” said the second shape,
“I only died last night.”
T. B. Aldrich—Identity.
“My father always said that life was a series of decisions, some obviously more important than others, but every deci-sion we make, great or small has led us to where we are today. I think what he meant by that was that we are responsible in every way for our own choices, and our circumstances are a result of those choices. “
“Do you believe that?”
“I believe it’s true to a certain degree. Some things are be-yond our control, of course. For example we make a small decision to skip a class while we’re in school and we may think to ourselves
that we can make up the day’s work and get the assignments from a classmate, we have no way of knowing what other impacts that day’s decision may have on the rest of our lives. Suppose the professor decides to give a very important lecture that day? One that is filled with the information needed to pass the course, you may be able to get notes from a friend but have you truly absorbed the learning needed, probably not? Maybe as a result you have to change majors because you failed that course. You may have wanted to become a neurosurgeon but because you missed one day’s lesson you don’t understand neurotransmitters and are now forced to make a change that impacts the rest of your life; all because you made the seemingly facile decision to skip a class.
“I don’t think it’s that simple Jonathan.”
“No, but I use a fictional scenario to illustrate a point.”
“What’s the point?”
“The point is that we should carefully consider each decision we make regardless of how seemingly inconsequential it may appear at the time.”
“That’s easier said than done Jonathan. Sometimes one’s de-cision making ability is clouded by wants, needs, or emotions.”
“Ah yes, the human element, my father was very pragmatic. He would not have even considered an emotional element in his decision making.”
“Leaving the emotional or human element out of the equa-tion would not be very pragmatic.”
“Maybe you’re right Alfred.”
“What brings on this line of thinking Jonathan? I realize that you wax philosophical after a couple of drinks, but this is dif-ferent than your usual rant.”
“Speaking of which” Jonathan held his glass out to his friend and gave it a shake, rattling the remaining ice cubes emphasiz-ing its emptiness.
“Of course” Alfred took Jonathan’s glass and poured him another.
“I don’t know Alfred. Maybe it’s just my way of reflecting on some of my own decisions. They haven’t always been good ones you know?”
“No one can be right all of the time.”
“No, but to not see what is plainly in front of my face.”
“You are no doubt referring to Susan.”
“I knew going in that she wasn’t over Robert. I knew that she still had contact with him. I thought it was just the result of an amicable separation and that they were just friends.”
“Jonathan, you had no way of knowing that this would hap-pen. How long had you been married before she began the affair?”
“Almost fifteen years.”
“You couldn’t possibly have seen this coming.”
“No, you’re wrong. It had been festering the entire time. I knew them you know, when they were together. She never treated him the way she treats me. She always had more re-spect for him. She treated him more like a man.”
“Not to besmirch his profession but you’re a professor at a major university, with tenure I might add, and he’s a carpen-ter.”
“That may be, but he’s more the masculine type, rugged and outdoorsy.”
“More like her father.”
“Yes, I think that’s the attraction. She looks up to him and trusts him. Me on the other hand she blisters with demands and talks to me as if I’m her child. I don’t know how long I can stand it Alfred! She continues to openly assail me, she makes no effort to hide the fact that she is cheating. “
“They’re not hiding the affair?”
“No, they are both very open about it. It’s embarrassing. She talks openly with her friends about it, even while I’m in the room. She constantly compares him with me, of course mocking me and telling me how much more a man he is than I. “
“I’m sorry Jonathan, that’s an awful way to be treated.”
“Thank you Alfred and thanks for the drink.”
“It’s a bit early for me but I’m willing to make sacrifices for my staff, and for my friends.”
“I think I should be going.”
“You’re sure you’re alright?”
“Yes, I know that she only says these things to hurt me. She can be so malicious; I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve such treatment from her. I’ve provided for her the best I can, I give her everything she asks for, and still she prefers him.”
“Maybe you should try being more stern with her?”
“I’ve tried, there’s no reasoning with her. She turns into a screaming nightmare. She threatens me; she threatens to leave me.”
“Maybe that’s for the best if you can’t work things out. Jonathan, I can’t but wonder why she does stay. If things are as you say and she prefers him, why doesn’t she just go and be with him?”
“He’s a bit smarter than I am in that regard. He sees her for what she really is and refuses to commit to her. I’m actually a little grateful for that fact Alfred, I ‘m afraid I would wind up alone if she left me.” Alfred put his hand on Jonathan’s shoul-der and walked him to his office door.
“Do you have any more classes today Jonathan?”
“No, I’m done for today.”
“Then go on home and get some rest. These things have a way of working themselves out.”
Just outside of Alfred’s office sat his assistant Julia. Julia nev-er tried to listen in on the Dean’s conversations but she couldn’t help but overhear. And she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jonathan. She always thought that Jonathan was such a nice and gentle man. She didn’t understand how his wife could abuse him so.
“Good afternoon Julia.”
“Good afternoon professor Reed.”
“Please, call me Jonathan.”
“Ok, Jonathan.” She said shyly. “Dean Bennett, I’ve finished for the day. Is there anything else?”
“No, good night Julia” Dean Bennett yelled out from his of-fice. Armed with a newfound bravado as a result of a third scotch, Jonathan said
“Julia, would you like to join me for a drink”?
“I don’t think that would be appropriate professor, I mean Jonathan.”
“What do you mean? Two colleagues sharing a drink is not a crime.”
“Maybe not but some people may misinterpret.”
“Maybe you’re right Julia, another time perhaps?”
“Yes.”
Jonathan made his way home and cringed tightly as he took the final steps towards his front door. He knew she would be in there waiting for him. He never knew what to expect. She could just as easily be pleasant and comforting as she could be cantankerous and combative. He turned the latch slowly as to not make any noise. He opened the door and there she was at the end of the hallway sitting at her computer. She hadn’t heard him come in. He stood for a moment watching her from a distance. She was still very beautiful; her long blonde hair flowed over her shoulders and down the back of the chair. Her long slender legs came out from the left side of her chair crossed at the ankles; her high heels lay neatly on the floor next to her. Then it dawned on him that she was wearing heels, and a dress. She was planning to go out again. He fum-bled with his keys as he hung up his coat. She heard him and quickly turned off the computer.
“I didn’t hear you come in” she said. “You’re late where have you been?”
“I had a drink with Alfred.”
“That’s just fine. Leave me here all alone while you have a drink with your friend!”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Whatever, you only think of yourself.”
“You look very nice. What’s the occasion?”
“I’m going out.”
“Oh, with whom might I ask?”
“With some friends; don’t you worry about what I’m doing. I don’t have to answer to you, you’re not my father!”
“No, I’m simply a husband wondering where his wife is go-ing. I don’t suppose whoever you were chatting with online has anything to do with this?”
“I wasn’t chatting, I was shopping.”
“I see, what were you shopping for, is there still some item out there that you don’t possess?”
“What the hell do you care? I’m going out!”
“Did you at least make some dinner?”
“No!”
“What is it you do all day? Look at the state of this house. I hired a maid for you and this place still looks like a pig sty.”
“She comes once a week. How is she supposed to keep this house clean when she’s only here on Thursdays?”
“You would think you would do something besides sleep and chat online all day. The maid shouldn’t have to come into such a mess.”
“That’s her job!”
“Her job is to help out once a week. Not to do it all.”
“Once I’m gone you can keep this house as clean and spotless as your uptight little ass wants.”
“Don’t say such things.”
“You’re so blind that you can’t see what’s going on right un-der your nose. Can’t you see that I’m not happy?”
“I don’t understand. I’ve given you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“But you can’t give me what I need.”
“Which is what?”
“Love, passion, attention; you’re like a stranger to me. I don’t even know you and you obviously don’t know me!”
“I could give you all of that.” Jonathan heard the door slam as she left, “if you would only let me.” He knew she would be out late. This was the way it always started. She would pick a fight, storm out of the house and not return sometimes until the next morning. This had been going on for months. Jona-than thought to himself, no dinner here I may as well go out. Jonathan made his way down to Mickey Bell’s, a pub just a short walk from his brownstone. Mickey’s was a place where Jonathan felt comfortable and where he knew he could get a decent meal without being bothered. Mickey’s was a watering hole for the professional crowd and it was far enough away from the university as to not be a hangout for college students. A quiet dinner and a few drinks was all that Jonathan required at this difficult moment. He wanted to forget, just for a while, the trouble he was having at home and he knew Mickey’s was the place to do it. Jonathan pulled open the door and walked past the busy bar area to where just a few small tables sat near the back of the room. A nice place to sit and enjoy a quiet dinner alone, he thought.
“Jonathan!” He turned and was surprised to see Julia the dean’s assistant leaning out of the crowd at the bar.
“I thought you weren’t up for a drink tonight Julia?”
“I never said that. I said that it would be inappropriate for the two of us to go out together for a drink. But I ran into some friends of mine after work and we decided to stop here.”
“Where are your friends now?”
“Oh, they had to leave and I was just finishing my drink.”
“Well I haven’t had dinner yet. Would you care to join me?”
“I don’t know.”
“Please don’t make me dine alone.”
“I am famished.”
“It’s settled then.” Jonathan escorted Julia to a table and they sat down.
“Let me get us a couple of fresh drinks before we order.”
As Jonathan stood at the bar waiting for the bartender, Julia sat looking at him. She had always found him oddly attractive. Jonathan was a reasonably handsome man, tall and thin with light brown hair that was just beginning to recede on either side of his head. He dressed as you would think a college pro-fessor might, a little on the nerdy side. Never much of a fash-ion sense he wore a pair of comfortable old jeans and a brown corduroy jacket. Julia smiled to herself at how cute and boy like he is. She watched him walk back to the table carrying their drinks.
“You know Jonathan; you don’t seem old enough to be a college professor.”
“Oh, don’t be fooled by the lack of grey hair. I’m a bit past my prime.”
“I somehow doubt that. How old are you?”
“Now why is it ok for you to ask me my age but if I, a man, were to ask you, a woman, I would be chastised for commit-ting such a social faux pa?”
“I don’t mind telling you how old I am. I’m thirty seven and proud of it.”
“Really, I would have guessed much younger. In that case I don’t mind telling you that I’m forty two.”
“I would have guessed a bit older.”
“Oh?”
“That’s a compliment to how distinguished and scholarly you look.”
“If only my wife felt the same.”
“I’m sorry, I almost forgot you were married.”
“I try to forget. I’m sorry I don’t mean to bring up my troubles.”
“Actually I have something to confess.”
“What is it?”
“I can’t help but overhear your conversations with Alfred. I’m afraid I’m somewhat familiar with your marital situation. Don’t worry; I never repeat anything that I hear in the dean’s office. I think the way she treats you is absolutely despicable!” Julia reached across the table and took Jonathan’s hand. “I would treat you much better.” Jonathan looks across the table at Julia. For the first time in many years he sees understanding and tenderness in the eyes of a woman.
“I don’t know how much more I can take, or how much more I’m willing to take. I’ve always been afraid of losing her. Life with her is all I know.”
“Jonathan, I told you a bit of a fib. I did meet friends for a drink but I was the one who suggested this place. I know that you sometimes come here and I had hoped I might run into you. I think Susan is blind. You’re a wonderful man and if she can’t see that and appreciate you then she doesn’t deserve to be with you. I want you to know that I’m here for you if things change. I think I should be going, goodnight Jonathan.” Julia got up and walked over to Jonathan. She kissed him gently on the cheek and whispered in his ear, “I think you’re the sexiest man I’ve ever met.”
Jonathan was stunned. He watched as she walked away. She looked back at him once more and smiled. Jonathan’s heart was racing, his hands were sweating, and he didn’t quite know how to react.
“Are you ready to order sir?” the waiter had suddenly ap-peared.
“Huh? Oh, uh yes.”
Jonathan floated on air in the weeks following. Just knowing that he wasn’t alone in the world, and that he didn’t have to be the subject of abuse and torment gave his spirits a lift. He felt alive and jubilant. And Julia, Julia was the reason for his newfound happiness. He found himself concocting rea-sons to visit Alfred, just so he could see Julia. And after a while he didn’t need to have a reason. He would just stop to see her. They began flirting and holding hands when they were sure no one was watching; stealing the occasional kiss in a stairway or empty room.
“Julia, I can’t stand it anymore. I have to have you.”
“You will, but not until you’re free of her.”
“Soon, I have a lot to lose. I have to be sure she is left with no recourse in a divorce. I’ve installed a program on her com-puter that captures keystrokes and copies emails for me. I have enough correspondence to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she has been having an affair.” Jonathan opened his brief-case and handed Julia a stack of papers.
“Can I read these?”
“Yes, take them. I have to run to class.” He glanced around quickly to be sure they were still alone and kissed her deeply.
Julia took the stack of emails back to her desk and began to read through them. There was no doubt that Jonathan’s wife, Susan, was having an affair. The emails were very descriptive, sexual, and passionate; Susan and Robert talked about a mar-riage and a life together. Jonathan could easily get a divorce granted on a charge of infidelity. But as she read on Julia began to notice a change in the manner of the correspondence. What started off as love letters deteriorated over time into the same erratic and contemptible behavior that was evident in Susan’s relationship with Jonathan. The same exacting tone and degrading remarks that she had plagued Jonathan with were developing in her relationship with Robert. Julia quickly walked to Jonathan’s classroom where he was just finishing a lecture to his students. She paced the hallway outside of his room, anxiously waiting for him to finish. Finally he emerged amidst a crowd of students.
“Jonathan, have you read these?”
“No, I just printed them off this morning. I haven’t had a chance yet. Well I glanced at a few of the first ones. There seemed to be enough incriminating evidence.”
“He’s broken it off with her.”
“What?”
“Look at this last email:
Susan,
I don’t think it will come as much of a surprise when I tell you that we are through. Whatever happened to the caring and loving woman that I met years ago? It seems all that’s left is a bitter middle aged brat. I’m sorry; I won’t be another Jonathan for you. If he’s willing to put up with your selfishness and pettiness then God bless him! I’m certainly not. Please seek some sort of therapy as this behavior will certainly impact every relationship you ever hope to have.
Goodbye,
Robert
Jonathan, what does this mean?”
“It means he’s come to his senses.
“No what does this mean for us?”
“It doesn’t mean anything to us. I’ve wasted enough time. I’ve given to Susan until I have nothing left to give. I know I’ll wrestle with some guilt over leaving her, especially now that she has no one to go to, but she’s brought this all on herself. I’ve found everything I need, everything I’ll ever need or want in you. I’m going to tell her tonight.”
Jonathan confronted Susan that night and told her he was leaving her. He showed her all of the emails and documenta-tion he had collected. Her response was stoic; she had other things on her mind. The following day he met with an anxious Julia.
“Did you tell her?”
“Yes.”
“Well, how did she take it?”
“She told me she had cancer and that she was afraid of dying and she begged me not to leave her.”
“Oh my God!”
“Don’t worry. It’s just the way she plays this game. Whenever she can’t get what she wants through intimidation or childish tantrums, she claims to be deathly ill. Let’s see now, according to her she has had a brain tumor, hepatitis, swine flu and now finally cancer.”
“She fakes illness to get her way?”
“Yes.”
“That’s despicable.”
Little did they know that this time Susan wasn’t lying; she had developed an aggressive form of inflammatory breast can-cer. She had only a few weeks to live.
II
The church bells rang out a solemn tone as the mourners left the cemetery on this cold and grey November morning. It had only been four months since her diagnosis but Susan went fast. Without the will to fight or the need to go on she simply gave up. Jonathan had remained by her side throughout the ordeal trying as best he could to show her some support, but he couldn’t hide the fact that he had fallen in love with Julia. Su-san knew she had treated Jonathan badly during their marriage and never found peace with the things she had done. In be-tween the pain and anguish the disease inflicted on her, she had time to think and reflect. She wished that somehow she could make up to Jonathan all the pain she had caused him.
As Jonathan walked Julie to her car after the funeral Julia said, “Jonathan, I know the last few months have been diffi-cult, but I’m very proud of you for staying by Susan’s side.”
“The most difficult part was not being with you.”
“Well it’s all over now. We can get on with things as we wish.”
“We should, however, wait a few months before being seen in public together. People would think me callous if I did not observe some reasonable mourning period.”
“Jonathan, is there really anyone left who doesn’t know at this point?”
“Maybe not, but waiting a bit would still be the respectable thing to do. Think of all the fun we’ll have. We’ll sneak out of town together to a place where no one knows us for a couple of long romantic weekends. Perhaps we could visit some of the wine country, find a nice bed and breakfast.”
“Yes, that does sound nice. All right then, we’ll give it two months.”
“I think six would be more appropriate.”
“Four then.”
“Alright four.”
While Jonathan and Julia were beginning their life together Susan was beginning her afterlife. On the night of her death Susan slipped into unconsciousness and out of her mortal body. She awoke refreshed as though she had slept for a long time and sat up in her bed not yet realizing she had passed. She looked at the people gathered around her, Jonathan; the doc-tors and nurses.
“What the hell is going on? Why all the glum faces?” but there was no response. Instead the doctors and nurses con-versed as though they didn’t hear her at all. She looked down at her feet and realized that there were two sets of legs on the bed. The ones under the covers that belonged to her now de-ceased physical body, and the ones above the covers that were part of her sprit; she jumped up and looked back at the bed and she could see her dead body lying so still. She reached out to touch her face but could feel nothing. Suddenly realizing that she was dead, she looked around frantically. A noise began to fill the room, soft at first but growing louder. Like a distant hum of a radio not quite in tune moving in from some unseen place. The room began to become dark until all she could make out were grey shadows. Suddenly, black figures began to surround her. She screamed! But no one could hear. She swung her arms wildly and flailed as the figures began to tear at her and pull her. They cursed her and began to reveal to her all of the sin and selfishness she had in her life. They taunted her seemingly knowing just the things to say that would make her feel the worst about herself. “Jesus help me!” She screamed. And there was silence. She sat on the floor alone in the darkness then a light began to shine in the distance. It seemed as small and distant as a star at first then it began to grow nearer to Susan but never seemed to change its shape or size. The nearness of the light was less of a physical presence than a spiritual one. She felt for a moment the presence of God’s love; a sense of peace overwhelmed her. Light began to fill the room and she could again see Jonathan and the doctors and nurses who were still there. All that she had experienced happened in a blink. It was then she noticed a stranger in the doorway, a tall man with dark hair who looked straight at her. She tried but could not make out his face.
“Who are you?” she asked, but there was no reply.
“I’m dead.”
“Yes,” whispered the figure.
“Are you an angel?”
“You may say so.”
“I don’t understand.”
“How could you? You’re a mortal being, one born of a woman, I was created by him.”
“Him?”
“Yes, and as such I know the depths of heaven and hell and I share the pain and injustices that your spirit has suffered.”
“What happens now?”
“What do you want to happen?”
“I don’t want to go to hell.”
“I am not here to judge or to sentence. The gift of a physical life that was given you has come to an end; that time has passed.”
“What should I do?”
“You still have choices. You can move on into the afterlife and await your fate or you can dwell here among the living and others like yourself.”
“There are dead people still here?”
“Surely you’ve heard of ghosts.”
“Of course, but I never really believed in ghosts. What awaits me in the afterlife?”
“When you were born you were given a great gift, a gift of life and physical being. You will be judged on how you used that gift, for good or for evil.”
Fear filled her.
“Is there nothing I can do now to change what might await me?”
“You will pass on to another plane of existence. If you have gained understanding, compassion, and wisdom from the time you have spent you may be elevated to a place where you will grow spiritually and become closer to God.”
“What if I haven’t?”
“Humans who live in the physical world are their lowest state of creation and their existence is in the lowest plane. You were created by man and blessed by God; you must progress or be cast out.”
“Cast out, into hell?”
“What you believe to be hell is a punishment. There is no punishment here, only regret. I cannot know your fate, only you can discover what awaits you by crossing over.” The angel lifted his hand and a hole began to burn itself into the air until it expanded and reached the ground, becoming a cosmic door-way to whatever it was that awaited Susan in the afterlife. Coldness crept over Susan as she stared into the dark doorway trying to get a glimpse of what was in store for her.
“Try as you might, you can only see what’s on the other side by crossing over.”
“No, I’m afraid!”
“As you wish, I will leave you with a warning. Be wary of others you meet. Not all are of god. There are many lost and confused souls wondering the earth.” In a flash the angel was gone and Susan found herself standing alone in the hospital room with her body, now covered by a sheet. She began to think of Jonathan and all she had put him through. She cov-ered her face with her hands, ashamed of the things she had done. She looked up and was suddenly now in the house she once shared with Jonathan. “How did that happen?” she won-dered. She looked around and noticed that things looked dif-ferent. She walked into their bedroom and could see that all of her things were gone. “That son of a bit.h! I haven’t been dead a day and he’s gotten rid of all my things.” She walked to the closet and looked in; her clothes were all gone. “I can’t be-lieve this!” she said. She looked all around for Jonathan but couldn’t find him. She went to the window and looked out-side. The trees were thick with leaves. Flowers were blooming in the garden. It was spring. “Oh my God, how, I just died last night?” She ran to the door and tried to open it, but her hand went through the knob. She hesitated for a moment then reached forth her hand and pushed it through the closed door. It passed through effortlessly so she stiffened herself, closed her eyes, and took a step toward the door. When she opened her eyes she was cleanly on the other side. “Huh, just like in the movies,” she thought. She walked out into the street and stood as people passed her by. A man came rushing towards her and she tried to jump out of the way but he passed right through her. A feeling of nausea and sickness swept over her. She fell to her knees.
“Not a very pleasant feeling is it?” Susan looked up and saw a very handsome young man standing over her.
“Are you another angel?”
“Do I look like an angel?” Susan stood up and the young man took her by the arm and walked her to a nearby stoop. “You’re new, I haven’t seen you before.”
“I died last night. At least I thought it was last night. I died in November.”
“Of what year?”
“I assume this year! Don’t tell me I’ve missed more time.”
“What year do you think it is?”
“It was 2009 last time I checked.”
“Well then you’re in good shape. It’s spring of 2010 here on earth.”
“What do you mean here on earth? Is it some other time somewhere else?”
“Time is fluid when you’re not tied to the physical world, it’s meaningless. Why burden yourself with such inconsequen-tial things when nothing matters?”
“Nothing matters? Everything matters, I suppose, I don’t know I’m very confused.”
“Why didn’t you cross over?” Susan was silent. “Right, I’m not too anxious to jump into that black hole either.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Grigori; you can call me Greg.”
“Is that Italian? You don’t look Italian.”
“Not all Italians have dark hair and eyes.”
“That’s true . How long have you been here?”
“A very very long time, I have seen a great many things come to pass. You are very beautiful. I’ll bet there is some man missing you very much.”
“Actually, I was married but things weren’t good.”
“Was he a bad husband, an adulterer, a drunk, abusive?”
“No, he was very sweet and understanding and tolerant and I took advantage of him.”
“He was weak.”
“He was sensitive and smart and I didn’t value any of that. I wanted him to be strong.” Greg took Susan by the hand and they began to walk down the street together.
“You have to remember that the living can’t see you, so try to avoid them. You’ve already found out how unpleasant it is for them to pass through you.”
“Why is that? I didn’t feel anything when I passed through a door earlier.”
“A door is an inanimate object without a soul. You are a spirit, a disembodied soul. When another soul passes through you things become all jumbled together and they have to sort themselves out again. Separate souls are like oil and water, they just don’t mix.”
“Did that person who ran through me feel anything?”
“It’s not likely. Most living people aren’t sensitive enough to their soul to feel anything beyond the physical.”
“This is going to take some getting used to. What else do I need to know?”
“You need to know plenty, but all in good time. You haven’t even told me your name.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I guess I’m just a little overwhelmed right now. My name is Susan.”
“Susan, I want you to tell me what you want. Why are you here? Do you have some unfinished business? Do you seek revenge? Or are you just afraid?”
“I thought I could make up for some of the things I did, for the way I treated Jonathon; he was my husband.”
“I don’t think it works that way.”
“What do you mean?”
“You had a lifetime to do the right things. You think you can make up for it now? There’s no G.E.D. program for life. All you can do now is cross over and see what God has planned for you or stay here.” Susan began to break down.
“I’m afraid.” Greg held Susan in his arms and did his best to try and comfort her.
“It’s not that bad Susan. Look at it this way, all of the worries and responsibilities of life are behind you. You’re a ghost! You can do whatever you want.”
“I guess that’s right, but I don’t know what to do or even what I can or can’t do.”
“What did you like to do when you were alive?”
“I liked to go dancing.”
“Pick a night club and walk right in, no cover charge ever.”
“I liked to walk in the park.”
“Anytime, day or night, you can walk in the park without fear.”
“I loved to read.”
“No library card needed!” Susan began to smile.
“Maybe this isn’t so bad after all.”
“I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
“What do you like to do Grigori?”
“I like to watch.”
Greg and Susan spent many days together wandering around and mostly observing people going through their daily routine. Greg taught Susan about the fluidity of time and told her of what he knew about the universe. Susan was entranced by his knowledge and with his ability to navigate the world around them in a way that made time pass without notice. After a while she began to forget about Jonathon and the life she had before. The afterlife for her had become a blissful existence with the type of man she had searched for all her living days but could never find. Greg carried himself with a quiet confidence and seemed to know just what to say to make Susan feel special and important. Until then she had always felt abandon and alone, and she only now was able to recognize that. Soon the days turned into weeks and months. Greg and Susan were inseparable. A day was never without new discovery and the nights were filled with quiet contemplation. Susan soon realized that she loved Greg, but this time it was without the complications of a physical relationship. Susan thought this at first to be a drawback but she soon realized that the desire wasn’t there either. They were content to be with one another and to share only the purest form of sincerity.
“Something just crossed my mind Greg.”
“What is that?”
“We have been wandering around this town for a long time now and we haven’t had any interaction with any other ghosts. Why is that? You seemed to find me almost immediately. I would have thought we would at least have bumped into others like us.”
“I have noticed others.”
“You have?”
“Yes, but remember I have been at this a very long time. I have a knack for noticing things you might otherwise over-look.”
“That’s right but you never told me where you came from originally.”
“The same place we all come from.”
“You answer me in riddles.”
“You said something was on your mind. What was it?”
“Oh yes, I almost forgot. I was wondering if we could…”
“Could what?”
“I was wondering if we could haunt a house!”
“Why in the world would you want to do that?”
“I thought it would be a nice change from being on the move continually. We could find a nice big house filled with nice people and move in with them.”
“You don’t think they would object?”
“How would they know?”
“Some people are sensitive to the presence of sprits around them.”
“Oh c’mon, it’ll be fun. We’ll pick a place big enough to have space to ourselves. There are plenty of couples in this town rattling around enormous houses with no children or pets. We could stay unnoticed and just relax for a while.”
“We could watch them.”
“Yes, we could watch them to.”
“They would have to people of some interest.”
“I know just the type of people.”
“Oh, who might that be?”
“Academics; my former husband was a college professor. He and his friends are just the types we’re looking for. Smart enough and some eccentric enough to be interesting and they love big old houses with lots of furnished rooms that they never use.”
“Hmmmm that does sound appealing. I could use a vacation from trying to get in as must observation as I can. A relaxing repose in a stately manor might just do the trick.”
“It’s settled then.” Susan and Greg spent the next few weeks trying out different houses to see which one fit them best. Some houses seemed perfect but the inhabitants weren’t right. Either they had children running around making noise or they had pets that were sensitive to their presence that would start barking or mewing uncontrollably every time they entered the room.
“Maybe this was a bad idea,” said Susan.
“Not at all; we’ll find the right place it just takes time. May-be we’re not focusing on the right area. Think of it, the places we’ve been looking at are in town, close to schools and other businesses that might be more attractive to a family. We need to look further out of town. Out where people would live who don’t want to be bothered.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” Greg then sat down and closed his eyes and began to concentrate very hard. Susan curiously watched him and waited. After a few minutes Greg opened his eyes and said, “I know where we can go.”
“How do you know?”
“There’s a house just outside of town on what used to be a small dairy farm. Some time ago the old farmhouse was con-verted into a large manor by the owner of a railcar manufac-turer named William Mosby. Mosby was very eccentric and insisted that all of his business be done via the telephone from his home. He never left the house for any reason for fear that he would be assassinated.”
“Did someone want him dead?”
“No, there was no reason at all to think anyone would harm him. He was a good man, good to his employees, good to his business partners and associates. He was just a little paranoid.”
“Who lives in the house now?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go and find out.” Greg and Susan stood before the old manor and could see that it had fallen into some state of disrepair. The large Iron Gate that once stood as a ma-jestic guardian was now covered in vines; the walkways over-grown with weeds, and the garden along the front of the house had grown so high that it all but hid the enormous structure it once adorned.
“It doesn’t look like anyone lives here,” said Susan. “I thought you said some rich old tycoon lived here?”
“I must have lost track of time. Come to think of it, that was shortly after the civil war.” They walked to the back of the house and noticed something different. There was landscaping equipment lying about and the yard had been completely cleaned up and new flowers had been planted in part of the garden. They went into the house and saw boxes in the foyer. Someone was moving in. Susan was astounded by the beauty of the stately old Georgian style home. A spiral staircase wound its way up to the second floor from the large open room and a landed on a lanai that wound around three walls of the upstairs area. She looked down to see Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ covering the tiled floor below. “Oh my, look at this,” she yelled down to Greg. Greg ran up the stairs and joined Susan. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said.
“I wonder what the people are like that are moving in here.”
“I don’t care”, said Susan. “This is where I want to stay.” Su-san slid her arms around Greg and embraced him. “Greg, I’ve never felt the way I do right now about anyone. If I were alive I would say I want to spend the rest of my life right here with you.” Greg realized that for the first time he also felt some-thing for Susan. But he, unlike Susan, knew that their time together was limited.
The following morning workmen began showing up. There were landscapers in the garden, carpenters and cleaning people in the house. Electricians inspected and tested wiring systems and finally in the afternoon a gentleman in a fedora and black cape flitted about from room to room dictating instructions to another man in a white shirt and bow tie who frantically scribbled in a notepad. In the following days the bulk work was complete and the man in the cape returned with his crew to decorate. By the time they had finished the house was trans-formed into a lavish but comfortable home. Susan wandered through her new home and admired the work of the decorator. Greg was in his own glory just watching all of the work unfold into a magnificent finished product.
“Isn’t it amazing how they can turn such a dingy old forgot-ten house into a beautiful home in just a few weeks?” He said.
“Yes it is. I think we’re going to be very happy here don’t you?” Greg looked at Susan, but instead of answering he just held her in his arms. Then suddenly they both turned. The front door latch was opening; the new owners were about to cross the threshold. Greg and Susan held their breath in antici-pation, not knowing who they would be sharing their new home with. They watched as the door swung open. The bright sunlight shone directly behind the couple as they stepped into the doorway and all that was visible was a dark silhouette.
“I can’t see them, said Susan.
“It looks like there are only two. I don’t see any children and I don’t hear any pets.”
“This could be it Greg!”
The couple walked into the room and began to look around. “They did a splendid job,” said the woman. She took a few more steps and Greg could now see her face.
“She looks nice, not too young,” said Greg. “I’m going down to get a better look.”
Greg moved towards the couple, looking intently at their faces. He hollered up to Susan. “He looks too old to have young children. I think it may just be them.”
“I still can’t see them,” said Susan. Then the man spoke.
“Let’s be sure everything is in working order dear. We don’t want to move in and find out we have no plumbing or elec-tric.”
“Oh my God,” Susan blurted out.
“What’s wrong,” said Greg?
“That voice,” she said. She ran down the stairs just as the man walked into the house and into plain sight. It was Jona-than. Susan stood like a statue on the stairway. Jonathan and Julia began walking through the house.
“Jonathan, I think I’ve found our bedroom.” Julia went into the master bedroom and began staking her claim.
“She’s in our room,” shouted Susan!
“There are other rooms,” replied Greg.
“And look at this Twinkie that he replaced me with! She has to be at least ten years younger than him!” Jonathan went into the master bedroom with Julia.
“You know Julia; if this is going to be our room we should probably begin to break it in right away.” Jonathan grabbed Julia in his arms and began kissing her and leading her back towards the bed.
“Jonathan, we shouldn’t. We have a lot of unpacking to do.”
“The boxes can wait, I can’t.” She giggled and they began to undress on the bed.
“I can’t do this Greg,” said Susan.
“You have to stay positive Susan. No negative energy.” Susan began to grow angry she stomped around the room yelling; trying to get their attention. She flailed her arms at the couple on the bed, punching and scratching at the air.
“What was that,” asked Julia?
“What? I didn’t hear anything,” said Jonathan.
“I thought I heard a voice. Someone’s here.” Julia jumped up and pulled her blouse on. She walked out onto the lanai and looked but there was no one there.
“She heard me,” said Susan!
“Susan leave it alone,” said Greg. “You don’t want to do this. You don’t know what could happen. “
“I’ll show him. I’ll push his little tramp over the edge. I’ll never let her rest in my house.”
“This isn’t your house Susan, it’s theirs. They can’t know we’re here.” But Susan was undaunted. Her focus was now on getting Jonathan and Julia out of what she considered her house. Greg begged her to stop but she persisted in tormenting Julia at every turn. Slamming doors, walking the creaky old floors at all hours of the night, screaming at the top of her voice, she even learned how to move things around although it took a great deal of energy. After a few weeks Julia couldn’t take anymore. One night while Jonathan and Julia lay sleeping Susan gathered all the energy she could muster and focused it on the lights in the room. The lights came on, awakening Jonathan and Julia. They grew brighter and brighter until they had to cover their eyes to shield them from the onslaught. Then one by one they began to burst. Julia ran crying into the night and Jonathan chased after her. They jumped into their car in their nightshirts and drove off.
Susan knew she had done her job. She delighted in the fact that she had successfully driven Jonathan and Julia out of her house.
“I guess I make a pretty good ghost after all, don’t you think Greg.” Greg looked sadly at Julia.
“When I first met you, you said that you wanted to change things for Jonathan and help him find the happiness you had denied him while you were alive and together. I took my time with you. I tried to teach you to see the inner light before giv-ing you the chance to redeem yourself. But the negativity and jealousy came through, and now you have decided your fate.”
“What do you mean? You knew this all along and you were just playing with my emotions? What kind of person are you? I loved you!”
“And I loved you to, though I always knew it couldn’t be. You once asked me if I was an angel, well I am. I’m Grigori, a watcher. My job is to observe and learn. I had hoped you would learn in death what you had not in life, but the true nature of the soul always comes through. It’s time for me to move on. You got what you wanted, but at a price.”
“Where are you going? You can’t leave me I won’t let you.” Greg walked towards the front door and Susan followed. He stepped out onto the porch and walked down the steps onto the sidewalk. Susan stood in the doorway looking out at him.
“Greg, I can’t seem to move. I’m frozen in the doorway.”
“Take a step back into the house.” Susan stepped backward and could move freely again.
“I don’t understand.”
“By running off the living from their home, you have con-fined yourself to the house.”
“Don’t leave me here alone!”
“I’m sorry, there’s nothing to see here.”
Gregory began walking away, fading into nothingness as he neared the gate.
“Greg,” Susan yelled! She continued to call his name until he was completely out of sight. She fell to the floor in the door-way and wept.
New owners came and went over the years, none staying very long. Some complained of an overwhelming feeling of sadness in the house and of hearing a woman crying in the night as they slept.
Tasked by his Goddess to find, relocate, and then quicken, the last three Heart Tree gem-seeds, Vanx the bard, and his motley crew of adventurers, set out to do just that.
Tasked by his Goddess to find, relocate, and then quicken, the last three Heart Tree gem-seeds, Vanx the bard, and his motley crew of adventurers, set out to do just that.
