Summer House

Chapter Thirteen

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Chapter Thirteen

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Ewan Suthiluck sat next to Arthit on the porch, staring up at the cherry blossom tree. "As long as we're sitting here, watching it. I don't think the blossoms will ever wilt."

Arthit looked up at him in question. "Why do you think like that?" he questioned him.

"It's magical." The other responded with a happy chuckle.

Arthit always found the old man strange. To him, the man was like some mythical human who saw life in depth more than others. Which was why he saw Arthit and even when he saw him after his death, he wasn't afraid.

"It must be hard for you, Arthit. To be here alone."

Arthit shook it off, unwilling to think of his painful past. "They left me, just like that. All of them. Father got put away in jail, mother ran off with some other man and my sister never came back for me like she promised. I was alone."

"So you killed yourself?"

"I did."

"I'm sorry."

Arthit brushed it off like it was no big deal, "I am dead now. You don't have to feel sorry."

It never bothered the old man that Arthit downright admitted that he was dead. "Did you ever leave the place?"

"No. I can't leave. Not yet anyway. This is my punishment," Arthit said sadly, thinking how confined he was, roaming around the house all day.

"I wonder what would happen to this tree if you leave, Arthit." The old man looked up at the blossoming cherry tree.

"Why do you think this tree has anything to do with me?" Arthit questioned in a surprised tone.

"This tree sprouted on its own on around the same time you did. And it's been this way ever since. Always blossoming in full bloom. I think it's symbolic."

Arthit stared up at the blossoms which seemed to glisten magically against the moonlight, whispering back to him in the silent of the night. "Hmm...I never really thought about it. Maybe you're right."

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Arthit heard a faint low humming in his head and opened his eyes to find himself staring up at the canopy of blossoms that shielded the diamond glittered night sky.

"You're awake?" Tay's deep voice flowed softly over him.

He turned to the side, realizing that he had somehow managed to end up sleeping on Tay's lap. Quickly bolting upright, he craned his neck to look back at him. Tay had his eyes shut with his arms supporting the back of his head and he was immediately drawn to the way the shadows danced along his smooth luminous face.

"Quit staring. You're starting to make me feel uncomfortable," Tay spoke softly, opening his eyes.

Arthit dropped his gaze to realize that he hadn't changed out of his suit. He didn't know how long he had been out for and he was even more afraid to find out. It had happened twice and luckily he had Tay there with him the second time.

If it wasn't for Tay...

"Kongpob is asleep. I brought you down here by the tree. I thought it would help you recover quicker."

"I don't plan on leaving this place anytime soon." Arthit spoke and Tay looked at him with a puzzled expression, thinking about what he had seen. "Do you think guardian spirits could dream?"

"No. Why? Did you dream?"

"It felt like a dream, but then it didn't. It was like a forgotten memory."

"That's possible. What did you see?"

"Kongpob's grandfather."

Tay sat up immediately to ask, "That nice old man?"

Arthit nodded. "I remember him talking about this tree. He said the tree sprouted around the same time I died and it's been this way since. I've no doubt about it now." He walked over to place his hand against the trunk and felt its power flow through his body immediately. What he was feeling was neither cold or hot sensation, it was somewhere in between. "Unbelievable. It feels alive."

Tay came over to stand next to him, placing his own hand against the trunk. "You're right. It feels like it's trying to communicate with us."

"I don't suppose you both know what that means," came the voice from above them.

Arthit raised his head to look at the glowing white angel, seated comfortably with one leg dangling off the thick branch. He couldn't tell the color of his eyes, because it was hard to tell in the dark.