Imagine that before you were born you had another life that you can no longer remember. Welcome to 'premortal' - the book of life before living....
Initially, this premortal world is peaceful and uncomplicated. A clear blueprint has been devised f...
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CALEB
Chapter 38 – The weakness is pried open
The following day Caleb and Tara spent the morning together, but Caleb was ill at ease. Tara was very concerned about him. He just didn't seem himself lately, and he was particularly restless that day.
'Caleb, what should we do this afternoon?' she asked.
Caleb had hoped that she wouldn't ask that particular question.
'I've got something that I need to do. Maybe we can meet after that,' he replied.
'What is it you need to do?' she enquired.
She didn't enjoy the secrecy that seemed to be creeping into some aspects of Caleb's life. Previously, they had shared every detail of what they would be doing whilst apart so that they could better schedule opportunities to be together.
'There is someone I need to see,' he answered in a guarded fashion.
Tara was not at all happy with the absence of detail and was determined to make this point. They had never argued but this would be the first.
'Caleb, I don't understand why such secrecy has crept in between us. We used to share everything with each other, but lately there are so many things that you seem to be keeping from me,' she complained.
'I'm sorry Tara, but it is nothing that you need to be concerned about,' he said unconvincingly.
'I am concerned Caleb. If you appeared to be your old happy self then I would be less so, but you are not,' was Tara's sharp reply
'Tara, you don't understand. I'm doing this for both of us and you just need to trust me,' Caleb countered with a sharpness of his own.
'I do trust you Caleb, but if you are doing something for us why don't you include me, rather than ducking off here, there and everywhere in secrecy. If this is some kind of surprise then I don't want it because it is driving a wedge between us. If it is something other than a surprise, then let me be part of it.'
Her argument sounded completely logical to Caleb, but he knew that he couldn't tell her all that she wanted to know. He knew that she would dismiss the idea entirely and that he would never have the opportunity to ensure her safe passage back to the Kingdom.
'I'm sorry Tara, but I cannot tell you,' he said quietly and left.
Tara remained and wept, her ability to be open with her emotions being one of her great strengths.
The meeting that Caleb was to attend was different from the others that he had been to previously. He had left Tara's abode earlier than planned, because of their argument, so he had more time than he needed to travel to the appointment. Accordingly, he flew most of the way and then walked the last few kilometres of the journey through the darkest part of the Kingdom. Though he was largely distracted by his thoughts, it was not entirely lost on him as he flew, and then walked, that the light gradually faded as he moved further south. Had he been thinking clearly he would have known to avoid both the area, and the company that he was about to keep like the plague.
