A Thousand Lives (Short Stories)

Winter Solstice

It was already evening when Robert was still sitting in his tent in front of a microscope, notes and samples. Ever since his wife had passed away, he had been working nearly night and day. It helped to push away unwanted thoughts and painful memories. Robert Cooper was a highly regarded archaeologist, tasked with examining the old structure in Newgrange. And when he could no longer bear sitting inside a closed room, he had set up a small tent in front of the site he was investigating. It kept Robert away from people and gave him the opportunity to take a walk when he needed some air. In this manner, he had worked the last two weeks, avoiding any human contact he could. His colleagues declared him to be crazy, working outside all day in winter. It was in fact the 20th of December and to be honest Robert dreaded the oncoming 25th. He rubbed his eyes when he paused for a moment to note something on the sheet next to him. Feeling the cold seep into his bones he rubbed his hands, even the tent couldn't keep out the low temperature anymore. Taking a sip from the bottle next to him which contained whiskey, he went back to the artefact he had found. It was a rather small, beautifully smooth shaped stone. On its surface one could make out small, sharp engravings with ancient symbols. For days, Robert was pondering now what they might mean. Yet so far, he did not have much luck. Feeling his mind drift away, the man sat down for a moment. His limbs felt as heavy as his eyelids, but he couldn't sleep. It would give him nothing apart from twisted dreams and startled screams. Deciding to take a walk to refresh his body, Robert took another sip from the bottle and donned his thick wool-coat. Outside, the strong wind blew strands of the brown hair into his face together with flakes of snow. The whirling white made it impossible to see, and the sharp, icy wind bit the skin of his face. Robert however, was a clever man and had positioned his tent close to Newgrange's entrance.

Inside the structure, which he considered to be some kind of tomb or temple, Robert took a deep breath. Freezing cold air filled his lungs, making him shiver. Icicles had grown downward from the ceiling of the entrance. Walking in this ancient ruin felt like a dream to him, only partly aware he took the smooth stone from his pocket. He hadn't even noticed how he had taken it with him. Unable to look away he stared at the perfect surface, when suddenly a voice reached his ears.

"Robert," Robert whipped around but he was alone. Perhaps the howling wind could have mimicked that womanly voice? Or did he drink too much again. Robert blamed the alcohol as he went forward through the narrow corridor.

"Robert," the voice echoed again. A shiver ran down his spine, the familiar cold feeling spread in his stomach. He clenched his hand around the stone with enough strength to turn his knuckles white. The thought of turning around crossed his mind. But Robert was a curious man and had apparently lost his will to survive after his one bereaving stroke of fate. Thus, he carried on to the inner chamber. What came next almost stripped him of any rational sense. Standing in the centre of the chamber was a woman clothed in shining, white garments and long blonde hair. Her blue eyes looked at him with tenderness as she spread her arms, waiting for him to embrace her. Robert felt how his knees grew soft. Afraid his legs would not support him much longer he leaned against the wall. His eyes fixed on the woman he had buried only weeks ago.

"S-S-Susan?" He stammered not sure if he was dreaming or simply going mad from the grief he was trying to run from.

"Come, my love." The spectre claiming to be his wife said in a flawless imitation of her voice. Feeling something hot in his hands, Robert opened it to find the small stone's engravings glowing with a bluish light. Being a man of reason, Robert took a step back when his dead wife approached him.

"You can't be!" He suddenly yelled at her, resulting in the woman stopping in her tracks and lowering her arms.

"Why not?" She asked, suddenly hurt in the same echoing voice as before. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at the sincere expression he had seen so often in the past.

"You are dead," he whispered. "And it is my fault," he averted his eyes as the tears started to trickle down. Gently she laid her hand on his cheek, mimicking his sorrow she spoke with a compassionate tone.

"Oh, Robert. What have you done to yourself?"

"If I wouldn't have been at work, you wouldn't have been there when the train derailed." Robert sank to his knees, no longer able to keep his composure he sobbed, while she held him.

"I'm sorry my love."

"But there's no harm done," she explained as she caressed his hair. Confused by the mysterious statement he looked at her again.

"You are dead."

"I have come to get you," she smiled as he still struggled to understand.

"Where to?" He finally asked when she stood up, dragging him with her by the hands.

"To their world, where there is no death and no hardship. Where we can be together forever." Robert saw how a portal opened up behind his wife. On the other side he could see green meadows, ripe fruits on the trees and the warm summer sun. "Will you come with me?" She asked with a silent plea in those eyes he never could resist staring into. Forgotten was the pain, the sorrow, the guilt, nothing mattered when they stood together like that. Not thinking twice, Robert followed his wife into the light.

21st of December 1903, the newspapers announced the death of Robert Cooper. His body had been found inside the tomb of Newgrange not far from his tent. Many people speculated that he might have lost sight of his tent in the blizzard. Others again who had been more familiar with Robert, claimed he must have been finally drunk and miserable enough to kill himself. Inside Newgrange there was nothing unusual to be seen, no stone, no portal to the other world. Only the worn body of a man who had frozen to death at the winter solstice. And the sun's beams, which aligned with the passage and flooded the chamber with light.