Wuthering Heights - The Untold Story

Chapter 6

“They are here, Kathy. Oh Kathy! They are here! How shall I ever survive this?”

“You shall, Heathcliff. And you must. Not for me, not for our marriage but for yourself. You’ve loved us truly. You’ve loved our marriage truly. So, do this for that marriage. Do this for us.”

The carriage arrived at its standstill bringing with it the death wish to that love. The long-haired beauty that harboured the most sinister intentions, cruelled by her deathly brother descended from the carriage that carried the arrival of death. How was our pure, innocent Heathcliff to know that the so-awaited day of his union with his lover would bring in the harshest truths from his pasts? How was he to know?

The two new guests, Catherine and her brother Hindley, who were now standing before me were probably the strangest people I had ever encountered. From what Heathcliff described my namesake to be, I certainly had much higher expectations about the woman. He described her as a delightful soul who possessed the ability to light up the darkness bothering the inner being. But standing before me was a lady who continuously kept sneering at her fellow servants to properly place her baggage on the barrow. Her brother, Hindley, was her twin in both looks and in manners. Both of our guests often gave me glances of what seemed like disgust and contempt. It seemed as if they viewed me as a slave and a slave had no place being in the presence of such fine aristocrats.
“Welcome to our humble abode.” Heathcliff said gruffly. He held my hand tightly as he warmly addressed our guests. I could clearly sense how the air grew heavy with the unspoken threat that hung between us and the siblings. I couldn’t quite put my finger on whether Heathcliff could recognize the tension in the atmosphere. Even if he did, he did a commendable job of masking his sentiments beneath the shroud of stoic composure.

The gentleman, Hindley, in a tone of mockery replied, “Your idea of humble seems to differ greatly from mine, Heathcliff. Pray now, would you not introduce us to this charming lady?”

Heathcliff’s jaw tightened at his mockery. To calm him down, I placed my other hand on our intertwined hands. Our other guest coughed out loud to either indicate her presence or to showcase that she absolutely did not entertain the idea of me displaying affection to Heathcliff. Slowly, Heathcliff regained his composure and he replied, “As you may have got to learn about the announcements of my impending nuptials. She is my cherished bride, Katherine whom I hold in the deepest affection.”

“Good day to you my dear guests.” I chirped whilst bowing slightly.

“It is surprising to see how a heathen like you taught manners to his woman. Am I right, sister?” Hindley remarked rudely to his sister. His sister was clearly enjoying how rudely he was treating us.

“Allow me to show you to your quarters for the evening.” Heathcliff gritted his response through clenched teeth.

“How gracious of you, Heathcliff. For it would be a shame to miss a moment of your auspicious union.” Catherine murmured. She proceeded to immediately walk ahead of us, after making such a cruel remark, not even bothering to wait for her brother.

“Sister! Wait for me!” Hindley shouted while running after her.

After our boorish guests disappeared further in the fog, Heathcliff turned towards me with a wary expression. It was evident that he was tired of our guests. “Dear, I shall join you after I show them their quarters.” He said wearily.

“Do you want me to join you?”

“It won’t be necessary, my love. I shall see you in a while.” Heathcliff replied.

(Scene changes)

That evening, after Heathcliff had shown our guests their rooms which were located just above ours, he spent most of the time strolling in the garden, trying to waver off all the emotions that caged him into an ensnarling hold. 

With all my might, I tried to persuade him into talking to me but he would just not budge. My countless efforts could not beheld the circumstances that unfolded beyond. Still to this day, I regret the huge fight that we had that day. Who could have foreseen that our argument that day would change the course of our lives altogether?

Seething with anger, we both parted ways, heavy at heart, sombre at mind.

He strided off to the garden and I remained in the cozy, warm confines of the library.

There, I had hoped that the hour I spent scrolling and rummaging through the books would help me clear my mind but all attempts ceased to prevail.

However, soon enough, just when I contemplated leaving, I came upon a very ominous book titled, 'Catherine'.

“Was this 'Catherine' the same Catherine I met just moments ago? How very so could it even be? It could not possibly be.” As I thought aloud, my fingers shook at utter disbelief.

With great fear, I opened the cover. The very first page however made my breath go pale. What I saw left me dumbfounded, shocked, betrayed but more so curious.

             “For the greatest love of mine,
               For whom my heart swells with adoration,
               My dearest, Catherine."

               -Heathcliff.

“Immediately, my chest was consumed with this feeling of apprehension. It felt as if it were a Herculean task to turn the page and read what my fiancé had written. Was he still in love with her? Was he marrying me to surmount his affections for her?”

“No it could not be.” I thought to myself.

“Would it be wise enough to open this Pandora's Box? Would the words that were written in there destroy me? Am I to be able to comprehend and live past what I see? To be or not to be, what shall I ever begin to do?”

“No it could not. I told myself.” I coaxed myself into believing in the love I had for the man I was to be wed. The man that just moments ago was in my embrace, the man I pledged my soul to.

And with every grain of courage that was left in me, I turned the page.

And what I read left me astounded.

The remnants that the journal portrayed me; the remnants that Heathcliff had recorded about the events of his life ranging from when he first set foot on Wuthering Heights to how he fell head over heels for Catherine, the woman who lays just above the threshold of the ceiling separating us both, the woman who lives among the airs of me and my Heathcliff. And oh my, and how he escaped that dreadful place.

As I read through pages after pages of the journal, my mind grows staler each moment, my body runs dry, and my thoughts lay bare.

“Heathcliff, I- I-” I staggered away with each breath I take, with the turn of each page I make.