Oh My Manor

The eerie night sluggishly ticks on as the crunching leaves break under my every step.  Heavy fog consuming my body as I force myself to keep moving.  The whole forest smells as if it is dying.  Deafening silence fills my ears.  The dim moon shining very little light, gives me no sense of direction.  As the wind picks up, I quicken my pace to a jog while I try to avoid the low hung branches and the uneven surface of the ground.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Exhaustion gradually taking over my weak form, leads me to lying on the cold, hard wet undergrowth of the forest floor.  Cool air slowly setting in leaves me to crawling into the fetal position.  My mind begins to wonder of all the possibilities that can have my fate.  Survival instincts taking over leaving me with no control over my body, I climb back up onto my unstable legs.  Determination that thrives in my bones possesses me to walk. 

After countless hours of struggling I make it to what seems like an abandoned manor.  Salvation makes its way to the fore front of my mind, enabling a coat of calm to engulf me.  I near the manor and the more intricate designs careful stand out.  Symbols are carved into every metre of every wall giving it a supernatural feel.  I take the leap of faith and echo a booming knock that can be heard for miles in the stillness of the night. 

“Is there anybody there?” my voice unevenly bounces off the walls fading out like an old movie.  My unstable fingers grip the iron handle and open the ancient door.  Inside was no reflection of the outside.  It is modern and clean.  A crystal chandelier hangs above and the carpets flow to the multiple rooms exiting the foyer.  The second door on the left is closed, while warm light spills its way under escaping into the dim room where I stand.  Muffled voices of men journeyed from the grand stair case that climb the four storied house.  A shiver passes through my spine, leaving me feel as if I am being watched by a hawk. 

“Is there anybody there?” I ask once more but incapable of stretching my voice above a whisper.  The murmuring abruptly stops as quickening footsteps made their way to the stairs.  I lower my head in respect as I was the one who trespassed.  As the footfalls cease I raise my head enough so I can see their feet.  I am alone.  The men are nowhere to be seen.  I feel as if I should be put the nut house as I am starting to hear voices.  Instead of using my brain and leaving like any sane person I decide to follow the light and venture on.  For an unknown reason I feel connected to the mansion I am scavenging through.  

I crept into the light filled room to find a fully equipped kitchen.  Warm cookies and milk sat on the bench with a note folded neatly with my name on it.  The note read:

Alyssa,

Long-time no see my sweet darling.  I’m glad you made it back.  Sorry I am unable to greet you but I promise on my grave I’ll be here before the sun rises.  I will not miss you anymore.

With all my love.

Jeremy.

It cannot be possible, I have never placed a foot in this glorious manor.  If I had, surely I’d remember.  And who on earth is this Jeremy?  Calming my shocked state, I help myself to the soft, warm chocolate cookies.  I start searching for a clock so I can know how much time I have to prepare myself, I make my way into yet another room.  At the back of the room a grand old grandfather clock stands with all its pride.  The time reads 4:47a.m. Only 40 minutes until sun rise and I am yet to meet Jeremy for answers.  In the front of the room an unfamiliar box stood projecting unusual images.  I grew anxious in meeting Jeremy for my first time but obviously not his.  Confusion fills me as I file through my memory looking for a time in which there is a possible meeting but I continuously come up a blank. 

The front door creaking open notified me of someone’s presence.  Sneaking back through the way I came, I meet up with a man that looks as if has lived a full life.  Our eyes connect and recognition blossoms within me.  Jeremy, I assume, looks at me with love and adoration.  His frail legs carry him to me and I am swallowed by a hug that someone would give if they had not seen them in years.

“Oh my love, I have not seen you in what feels like centuries,” he spoke grinning ear to ear.  “I am sorry dear, you would not remember me, but I am Jeremy.” The love in his eyes has me melting.

“How is it that I know you?” I ask abruptly ruining his reunion to heal my confusion.  He leads me to a study room and places me in an antique chair.  Another grandfather stood proudly in the corner of the room showing the time of 5:13a.m. The sun will begin to rise in less than a short 20 minutes. 

“My wonderful, beautiful Alyssa.  I know you are confused but we have very little time for me to explain everything so please wait until I finish the whole explanation,” I nod not trusting my voice as it willed me to spill out questions.  “Alyssa, a little over seventy years ago, you unfortunately passed,” Jeremy spoke, leaving me in a stunned, motionless state.  “In my bid to see your gorgeous face again, I took to all means to being able to see you.  As you entered the manor you may have seen the symbols covering the walls.  Well it brings you back to me every year.  We were married for a little over a year in this manor but had known each other our whole lives.  And when you passed, my heart went with you.” 

“The downside is until I am rightfully with you, you will never remember me.  I long to spend eternity with you my love but I couldn’t wait that long to see you.  Every year on the night you passed you come back to me but as soon as the sun reaches over the hill tops you disappear until the following year where I am graced with your presence once more.  I know it is a lot to take in but please humour me as you do not have much time left.” Jeremy looks at me with truth written over his face and in the depth of his eyes. 

“I do not understand why, but I believe you and there is no explanation why I cannot trust you,” I quietly murmured.  “What I do not understand is why I heard voices but could not find the source?” I questioned. 

“Well along with the symbols I had to promise to care for others like you, ghosts if you will.  Until my time came,” he stated like he had practised this line a hundred times over.  Jeremy embraces me in a skin-tight hug.  “My love, the sun is about to rise.  I promise I will be here next time or I’ll be with you and we will return together.  I love you my dear, dear Alyssa.”  Water fills his eyes as he chokes on the last words.

“Until we meet again my darling Jeremy, I will love you always and forever,” but a lonely tear slid down my cheek as a warmth fills my body giving me all my memories of Jeremy from when we were mere children to when we met countless times where he would endure the same conversation over and over again.  I felt myself gradually fading out but not until we both spoke together, “I love you.”  

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