One Heartbeat

5. Emil

What was I thinking allowing myself to go so far as asking him why he didn't recognize me? It's as though being one with my former self is messing up with me. Gone is the logical girl I was months before my twentieth birthday, now I'm so impulsive and never think things through.

I need to keep my actions in check lest I scare Emil off, his reaction is not what I was expecting, but then again, Ron had said not all of our people are aware of their identities. Emil was older than me in the last life, and I suspect he's still older even now, meaning he must have strange dreams like I did.

"What're you thinking so hard about?" Ron's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You have been waiting by your car for the last minutes, lost to the world around you," he clarified coming closer.

"I saw Emil at the flo-florist." I told him and caught on. "You knew he was there, right? That's why you sent me there." I stated with a frown.

Instead of answering, Ron grinned and took the flowers he had sent me to buy from the car boot and walked away. This old man's still full of games.

"Ron!" I yelled walking fast to catch up with him.

"Yes, Imani?"

"What was the purpose of making me meet Emil when he and I are the reason for the massacre that happened?"

"Let's go make lunch, then I'll answer you."

With a pout I follow Ron into th woods until his fortress comes into view. This place still takes my breath away, the greenery, the beautiful flowers and the swaying trees look perfect. I know it's not as big as it used to be, but I'm sure it will get back to it's former glory soon.

Still mesmerized by the beauty of this and listening to the running water nearby, something Ron said makes me peck up. Lunch?

"Ron, wait up. Why's time here in the woods ahead from the actual time in the village?"

"I thought I was losing my mind yesterday, but I'm sure it was barely 10 AM when I left the flower shop."

Not giving me the time of the day Ron keeps walking ahead until we reach the cooking area. There's already a fire burning with a black three legged pot sitting on top of the open fire, beside the open fire is a clay dish filled with herbs.

"Go wash those herbs while I tend to these flowers." Ron orders as he adds more wood to the fire.

Looking at Ron, I'm convinced that certain things never change. Even when I was Taraji, he would behave the way he is now, avoid my questions and answer them a lot later. His reasons would be that he was teaching me to be patient. I don't think it worked because I always moved along or sulked.

I'm also proof that some things don't change, before my relationship with my father got strained due to my dreams, he would tell me to learn patience and I always sulked. Mum would pacify me with my favourite toy or ice cream and I would rejoice.

All of this thinking has me missing my parents, and I switch on my phone without a second thought. Like yesterday, I'm bombarded with many messages from my worried parents and Ada. I read through them all and get a little teary when I'm done going through all their messages.

There's one that catches my attention and I have to reread it, just to be sure of what I'm seeing. It's from my mother and it's not making much sense.

The police are going to open a missing person's docket tomorrow when the 48 hour lapses. Call your father before 12 PM to buy yourself time and tell him you are at gran's place.