Until Tomorrow

Chapter 1

"It's so strange that autumn is so beautiful; yet everything is dying."

~~~

Alex:

"Em, how long are you planning on keeping me trapped here? You have already shown me the church twice." I asked in an exasperated tone.

"Oh shut up Alex, aren't you eager to see the changes that we have made to this church." She pursed her lips together. "Ok, you don't have to be present at the meeting with the Father.  Why don't you wait for me here, I'll try to make it quick. Ok?" Emma asked.

"Fine, just don't take too long. I have an important meeting to attend and a flight to catch."

"Ya, Ya. You and your meetings." Emma walked away in graceful strides making a face at me.

She doesn't act like she is 29. I thought to myself, fishing for my phone to pass some time as I settled in one of the benches in the middle of the empty church.

Emma Clarke; my baby sister, who was younger to me by three years, but we both were really close. I never let her feel that she was the younger one. We were like best friends. I always protected and cared for her.Emma had dragged me with her to view the church her NGO had redeveloped under her supervision. It was beautiful, the marble and granite efficiently fabricated into a towering edifice with delicate designs carved into the stone. They had put in a great effort to recreate it, and I was really proud of her; but now I was getting impatient, and bored. To top it up, I had a really important meeting to attend with the new project dealers.

I had travelled to France on a business visit to sigh off a deal for our new hotel. Emma had moved from New York to Paris after her marriage to Nicholas Clarke, a charming family friend and a renowned businessman, they were quite happy together and I was truly happy for them.

I was going through my mails when heard a soft sobbing from the front of the church. I looked up to see a young lady kneeling in front of the idol. She was wearing a plain salmon pink top with black jeans. Her petite form bent down as she prayed. Her mocha brown hair with almond highlights, slightly wavy from the morning shower fell effortlessly around her shoulders, cascading down her back. Her shoulders slightly trembling as she sobbed, making a few strands of hair fall to the front. I couldn't see her face from this angle so I silently got up and moved a little closer to her. She abruptly stopped crying, brushing her tears away. She gracefully stood up and brought her left hand in front of her. I could see a single golden band glistening on her ring finger; I felt a rush of disappointment.

Wow man! You haven't even seen her face yet. I thought to myself.

She gently removed the ring from her finger and held it in front of her as if examining it, she started at it for a minute, the she bent down and placed it on the altar, murmured a silent prayer and was about to leave when the priest stopped her.

"Child, are you sure about what you are doing?" He asked.

"Father, I may not be 100% sure, but it is high time that I take some action." She replied.

Her voice was soft and silky; it was a bit hoarse, probably due to crying. Her voice was so melodious and angelic. She sounded almost sad and drained. Her accent was Australian laced with a slight of French accent. They both spoke as though they had known each other for a long time.

"My child, won't you try giving him another chance?" He asked almost hesitantly.

Her head snapped up as soon as he finished the question.

"Another chance?" She scoffed, "Father, I gave him enough chances to rectify his mistakes but he..." She sighed softly. "I don't think I have anymore chances left to give. And I don't think I have enough strength to endure anymore pain that he is bound to cause me. I will try to stay in touch Father. You will always be in my memories." She sounded so... hurt. She voiced herself with a lot of dignity but she sounded as if she had faced a lot of pain in her life.

"My blessings will always be with you. I will always wish that you have a happy life." The Father said. "Take care of yourself."

"I wish too. Thank you." She nodded. The Father walked way leaving her in her thoughts.

Then she quickly turned around to leave. When I realized I was standing in her way, causing her to stop mid-stride. She glanced up to see my face. I felt like my breath had been knocked out of my longs as a pair of sky blue eyes stared at me. She was so beautiful, her pale skin free of any fake make-up; yet she looked perfect. She had perfect flaxen, sun kissed skin slightly dotted with freckles. Her eyes framed by long lashes, were a bright blue dulled by sorrow. Her blue eyes were so mesmerizing, they held a deep secret. The pain and sorrow was so easily read through her eyes. I felt a sudden urge to comfort her. She looked like a delicate, fragile angel. Her brown hair styled in the most natural way, the color sharpened her innocent features.

Her eyes widened a fraction when she saw me. She took in a sharp breath before muttering an apology and brushing past me to continue walking away from the church; away from me.

I walked up to the altar and picked up her ring. It was a simple golden band with three small cut diamonds embedded in them. It was surrounded by a French phrase engraved in it.

It said; "À toi pour toujours."  I was fluent in French to understand that it meant "Forever Yours.".  I assumed it was from her lover. I discretly slipped the ring into my pocket when I heard Emma approach me.

"Okay, let's go. Sorry it took a bit longer than expected. Nick is waiting for us. Do you have time for lunch? We can drop you off to the office latter." She asked expectantly.

"I think I'll skip lunch, it will delay my arrival for the meeting. And I have no idea how long it will take for the meeting to get over so I cannot afford to miss my flight either. Is it possible for Nick to drop me off at the office, only if it's not disrupting your route?" I replied.

"Ya, sure we'll drop you. When will I get to see you again?" She asked "Your trip was really short this time, we hardly saw you."

"Hey, it's alright. I might be having many more trips in future if this deal goes accordingly. Sorry I couldn't spend enough time with you. I'll miss you sis." I said while ruffling her hair.

"Alex! Not my hair. And yes I'll miss you too." She scowled as she fixed her hair.

~~~

The rest of my day went smoothly, the meeting went great, we signed off the deal. I bid goodbye to Emma and Nicholas. And now I was returning back to New York. My home.

The only thought that kept nagging me was that whenever I closed my eyes, that pretty lady's face flashed in my mind. Her soft, silky hair. Her slender legs. Her mesmerizing cobalt eyes.

I shook my head trying to get her out of my head. I tried to convince myself to forget her. I knew that I needed to get my head straight because I was sure we could never meet again, leave alone know each other. We both had our own paths to walk on and I was sure that they were very different from each others.

~~~