“Why? What does he know?”
“He knows that you were discharged over four hours ago! I came early so I could help you pack your things. When you weren’t in your room, I spoke to a nurse and she said that you were discharged early this morning. I was confused. Did Mr Barclay get the times wrong? I didn’t know? I called you first but your phone was off, I was worried. So I called Mr Barclay and told him that you were discharged earlier and… well, I could tell that he was furious. I just called him now when I saw you.”
“Oh Jules… I wish you hadn’t called him!”
“Catherine, what is going on? I don’t understand why Mr Barclay is so upset.”
“So, what now?” I said, trying to change the subject.
“Straight to the college… No stop offs… No detours, nothing — those were his strict orders!”
Jules ran around the taxi and hopped in. She obviously couldn’t get to the college quick enough.
“Where were you?”
“London.”
“London?” she repeated still sounding flustered.
“I had to see someone. It was important.”
“Why didn’t you want anyone to know? Why the secrecy?”
“I don’t know. I am so sorry, Jules.”
“Catherine, I am not as dumb as I look. I know something is going on. Everyone is jumpy, secretive, scared. Even Dr Simons! I feel like I am the only one in the dark about something.”
I shook my head in guilt and didn’t answer.
What could I possibly tell her?
The rest of the short trip was spent in silence. Jules was obviously disappointed in me. When we got to the college, I could see James standing at the front, beside him was my luggage.
“No!” I cried.
“What is it?”
“He’s packed my bags!”
“What? No… that can’t be possible,” she said in disbelief as she looked out the window towards James. To her disappointment, she recognised the bags. They were the very ones she slammed against every step leading me up to our rooms on the first day.
“Jules… I don’t want to leave. Please don’t let him do this,” I begged.
James was now holding two bags in his hands, starting to make his way to the taxi. His walk was swift and his face was distraught. The taxi driver got out of the car and met him. He then took the bags from James and placed them into the taxi. Jules opened her door and started to walk towards James. I slowly opened the door and got out. I didn’t move an inch from the car, fearing what James was about to say.
“Mr Barclay is there something wrong?” asked Jules.
“Miss Kent, Catherine will be leaving today.”
“What? No! I won’t allow it!”
“Miss Kent, please go inside,” I heard James say in the most authoritative tone I have ever heard him use with Jules.
James was now just a metre away from me. Jules wasn’t listening to him. She was almost yelling. James looked me straight in the eye. He was moments away from falling apart. I could see it.
“I’m sorry, I can explain,” I pleaded.
“No… I can’t trust you anymore!”
“James, please, forgive me…” I whispered, while the tears were pouring down my face.
“You’re going home. Your ticket is waiting at the airport for you. Leave now, Catherine!”
He turned to the taxi driver and told him to take me to the airport.
Jules was crying and she turned, running back towards the college, calling out for Dr Simons.
“I love you…” I said helplessly.
He didn’t answer; he just opened the door wide enough for me to get back in.
“Don’t ever come back to this country!”
His words were like knives in my heart. James turned around and started to slowly walk away.
“Miss, are you ready?” the taxi driver kept asking.
I sat in my seat, but I didn’t close my door. I needed a minute. I looked around frantically, thinking of something to say or do to fix this. I couldn’t think. The tears continued pouring down my face as I watched James walk away. I wiped my eyes and hung my head low. The package that Elizabeth had left me suddenly caught my eye. It was on the ground. I must have dropped it when I got out of the car. I picked it up and removed the piece of paper that was tucked in under the straw bow. I turned back and to see that James was still walking away slowly.
My dear Catherine,
I wish I could be giving you this in person. This is the only possession I have from my mother. With no one to pass it on to, and for no reasons that I can explain, I feel this now should belong to you.
Yours sincerely,
Elizabeth
I ripped open the package to find a small wooden box. I opened the box anxiously. To my shock, inside the box was a gold chain and locket, but not just any locket. It was the locket in my dream. I pulled it out and looked over to see if James had gone. He was still there. The taxi driver had stopped asking me if I was ready to go. He had now stepped out of the car to close my door. I grabbed the locket and opened it. There was an inscription on the inside. I wiped my tears so I could read what was written. It was in Latin.
“In vita quod nex nos mos nunquam secui…”
I read it again slowly in the hope that I would be able to decipher it.
“In… life… and… death… we will never… part.”
“In life and death we will never part,” I repeated, again and again.
I hit my chest with the locket.
“Are you alright Miss?” the taxi driver asked.
I ignored him. My body went cold and tight. I closed my eyes and held the locket and chain in the palm of my hand, close to my heart. My mouth was wide open and tears were running down my face.
I thought…
And remembered…
And cried…
I cried for the beautiful life I once lived, for the love of my husband. I cried for my little girl, Elizabeth, who was left behind and her pure gentle skin that I can never touch again. I remembered my dreams. They were real. It was us all along.
I then remembered being thrown to the floor while my love was held back and forced to watch. I remembered his tears and screams of promises of vengeance. I remembered the wicked laughter in my killer’s voice as he pulled his knife slowly towards my heart. And as my chest tore open, my love broke free, with fire in his eyes and agony in his heart. He came to me, not to save me, but to die with me. As our lives were destroyed, he whispered in my ear, “in vita quod nex nos mos nunquam secui.”
I remembered… Undying, being born again, crying and screaming as I took my first breath. The way I felt, taking my last breath…
“I remember,” I whispered.
I opened my eyes and time must have stood still. The taxi driver hadn’t moved yet and James was still in sight. With my locket in hand, I opened the taxi door and slowly climbed out. I didn’t seem to have any control over my body.
“I remember!” I tried to yell.
But he didn’t hear.
“I remember!” I tried again, louder now.
But he was still walking away.
“Jonathon!” I yelled with all that was left in me, and fell to my knees.
He stopped walking… He heard his name… He knew that I remembered…
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost my husband Patrick, I love you. Thank you for all your unwavering support and conviction.
My children Cocab, Raymond and Lamia thank you for all your patience and inspiration, loving you forever.
To Margaret Belcastro, for reading this story so many times with enthusiasm and sincerity, your part in this adventure was valued.