A Word in the Breeze

The Prediction (The Note II)

Ewan ran to the door. The cube in his pocket bore heavily on him. It was not weight of physics, but the weight of possibility. What would she say? What would she say?

Surely she wouldn't say anything else?

He rang the bell.

Internally he chastised himself for choosing such a ridiculous moment. His hair was a mess. This coat was dreadful. She was going to hate him. What was he doing?

Nonsense. She wouldn't hate him. Quite the contrary.

“Ewan?” She smiled her confusion as she opened the door. “What's wrong? Did you forget something here?”

“Kylie... ” No. Not the nickname. Not now. “Kieran, I –”

Suspicion crawled across her face. “What's happened, Yew?”

“I – I love you.”

Her mouth fell open. At once he pulled out the box and fell on one knee. He revealed a blue stoned ring. But the words wouldn't come.

“Would you –?” he asked at last. It was all he could manage and she knew it. She beamed.

“Of course I will, you idiot!”

It was a beautiful moment. There were many hugs and laughs and sighs of relief, and a call to join her for dinner at once, and an impromptu celebration party. Just the two of them.

He was the happiest he could ever remember being. He'd held it in his chest for so long, he now felt like he'd allowed a balloon to inflate, filling every inch of him, making him float with joy. Oh, how he could dance!

And they did dance, actually, that night.

It was very memorable.

But he decided not to stay the night. He bid a very respectful good night and walked into the cool air.

Someone was watching him.

She was standing behind a tree, next to his parked car. He recognized her at once.

“You! You're the – the one who – who are you?”

Now that he thought about it, he had no idea who she was. He'd only heeded her advice because he'd wanted to do this anyway. It didn't mean he knew or trusted her.

“I'm from the future.” She smiled faintly. There was something odd about the way she looked at him.

“Really?” he laughed. He was in the mood to accept anything. “And where am I in the future?”

Her face fell. A rushing sense of foreboding threatened to engulf him.

“Where – where am I? Who are you? How do you know about me?”

“I...” she turned and held the tree trunk, as though she couldn't face him. He moved closer to hear her better. “I'm from her future. Kylie... She's my grandmother and I'd heard about you. You're one of her stories. I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.”

A story?

“Where am I in the future? Tell me now!”

She faced him, afraid. From her look, she was several years younger than him.

“You're... I'm sorry you're dead.”

Silence.

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

He could feel the darkness crashing all around him, eating him up, burying him in rubble.

He couldn't breathe.

It was over – how could it be over? He'd only started! It couldn't – it wouldn't –

No.

“It's not true. You're – you're lying! It can't be tr–”

She handed him a note silently. He looked at it. His blood ran cold.

“Just one question. I'm really sorry, but it's why I came here. One question.”

He had sat down on the pavement. He couldn't face it.

“Please,” she sat down next to him.

He nodded imperceptibly.

“Why?”

He looked up.

“Why did you decide to ask her? Why now? Why this particular night? It's been the biggest mystery, in the future. Why did you choose this moment?”

“Because of you.” The whisper left him as from a dream.

“Me?”

“You – you came to my bedroom. You knew. You told me.”

“Oh.” She rose. Then shook her head. Incredibly, she had a wan smile. “That's what happens when you meddle, I guess.”

She was about to leave, but his words made her pause.

“Is it a good story?”

She stopped.

“The very best”

He nodded.

“Then I will go in peace.”

And she disappeared.