Somebody That I Used To Know

Chapter 3

Somebody That I Used To Know- Chapter Three

       After sitting down on the couch for about a half an hour, Clara and Alex decided to go to the park anyway. They figured that it would lighten the mood of the day.

       Walking hand in hand, they made their way to Hyde Park and sat on a bench under the shade of the English Oak that stood there. It was the bench that Ellie and Dave had sat on whenever Clara ran off to play with her friends. It was also where Dave had first told Ellie that he loved her. Clara remembered everything about this park, and the stories that her parents had told her about their memories there.

       Alex sat with her, arm around her shoulders. It was already about five and it was getting cold. He saw Clara shiver and stood up to take his coat off. Taking it, he wrapped it around her shoulders and sat back down. Despite his plead to take it back, Alex simply held her in his arms and made sure she was okay. They sat there, enjoying the scenery and sounds that the park had to offer until night fell.

       Before they left, Alex had one more thing to do. He got up, reached down, and knelt on the ground before Clara. She just stared at him as she flashed back to a time when she and John were only ten years old.

       They were sitting together on the swings in the park talking about what they wanted to be when they were all grown up. "I want to be a teacher." Clara said. "I like helping people learn stuff."

       "Well, I want to be a time traveler so I can take you to see the stars like you've always wanted." John explained. "I want to marry you one day,

Clara." With that, Clara stopped her swing in place. John got down on one knee in front of Clara. Pulling out a Ring Pop, he placed it carefully on her left ring finger and told her, "I love you, Soufflé Girl. One day, we're gonna be married and live together forever. I promise I will be good to you, and take care of you, and never stop making you soufflés." They both smiled and Clara jumped out of the swing to hug John as hard as she could.

       "I love you too, John. I can't wait to marry you." Clara said. She kissed his cheek and they planned their dream wedding at ten years old.

       Now, it was all too real for her, and she could barely breathe. "Alex.

What are you doing?" Clara asked.

       "Tying my shoe?" He said with a look of confusion on his face. "Why? What did you think?"

       She sighed, relieved that he wasn't proposing to her yet. "Nothing. Just wondering." Clara stated. Alex got up and put out his hand, offering to help her up. She placed her hand in his, and they began to walk home.

       "Clara," Alex started, "Do you want to talk about what caused you to back up earlier? Were you afraid to tell me about it?"

       "It was a time that I would rather forget about, if you don't mind. I wasn't myself. I was depressed and full of remorse and regret, but it gradually went away when you came back into my life. I love you, John."

       Realizing what she just said, Clara looked down at the ground and hoped Alex didn't hear the last part. "What did you call me?"

       "I'm so sorry, Alex. I guess I just mistook you for someone else. I love you." She said, trying to save herself.

       "Are you sure? Because I'm pretty sure you just said John." Alex questioned.

       "No. It was nothing. I love you and only you!" Clara didn't know what came over her when she said that. She really did love Alex, but that flashback must have stirred up some old feelings. It's not like it mattered, John was dead for two years now. It was over.

       "You're okay then?" He asked.

       "Right as rain." But as soon as they began to reach home, Clara saw a dark figure moving among the trees behind Alex. She must have been hallucinating because she could have sworn that the floppy-haired man with the bowtie in the background looked exactly like John.