Senior Year essays and other nonsense

The Sequel to "The Painted Door" By Sinclair Ross.

Looking around the room, Anne cries out "Why didn't you stay with your father; You would still be alive if you had!" She throws herself down onto the bed and sobs. But she feels a hand on her shoulder and is immediately overcome with rage. She whips around and screams "Get out of here! If you had never come, my beloved John would still be alive! Get out! Get out! Get out!" With a forlorn look on his face Steven says, through his own tears "Anne, listen to me. John was one of my dearest friends. What we did that night was wrong, but it is exactly what it was, what we did. The blame cannot be solely placed on my shoulders. Besides, I cant just leave you here alone, who will look after the farm? That last blizzard knocked you around, like a tumbleweed in the wind. I will stay until the snow melts, and I will teach you how to take care of the farm. Then I will leave this place and never come back." Anne simply nodded in response. Walking to the stove, she put more wood inside and relished in the heat that it belched out. She felt the heat slowly warm the house and smiled. Looking back at Steven she said "Well, we best be getting on with the chores, those animals aren't going to feed themselves." Grabbing him by the arm, she led him out to do the chores.

After the chores were finished, Anne decided that it was time to make dinner. Listening to the clock tick she walked into the kitchen whilst saying "I am going to fix us some dinner, please, make yourself comfortable." " Would you like a hand?" "You wouldn't know how." "Then teach me Anne, I am teaching you how to run the farm, so teach me how to cook. I've never been very good at it. But, I do make a pretty mean sandwich if I do say so myself." Anne chuckles then smiles, "Fine, I guess i will teach you."

As they worked, playful banter was exchanged. The bitter feelings of the morning were long forgotten, and a friendship was brewing. "No Steven," Anne laughs, "that is not how you cut an onion. If you cut through the middle, your eyes will burn and water for hours!" Steven chuckles and replies "oops, that explains the pain in my eye. who knew that such a tasty vegetable could hurt so bad!"

After about an hour, the Shepherds pie was in the oven, and the house smelled amazing. Anne and Steven sat on a threadbare couch, Steven piped up and said "why didn't you ever update your furniture after you wed John?" "We never had the extra funds, nor the time to do so. John wanted to give me whatever i wanted, his love for me was his entire life. Everything he did was for me, you know, he did come back that night, he was in the house. I saw him, and he saw us, I thought it was all a dream, but it turned out to be a nightmare that i couldn't escape." "What? Why didn't you tell me? Have you been carrying the wight of this guilt alone, all this time?" "Yes Steven, I have, I didn't want to burden you. I made a mistake that day, i allowed myself to be unfaithful to my husband. I vowed, that night, that I would forever try to mend my transgressions, but I don't get that chance anymore." "well, what were the things that he wanted to do?" "He wanted to buy me pretty things, he wanted to pay off the mortgage, and he wanted to grow old with me by his side." "I think we can make all those come true. He may not be here anymore, but we can fulfill his life wishes and make sure his legacy lives on." "That is true, and i think dinner is ready." "Ill set the table." Walking over to the stove, Anne pulls out the Shepherds Pie, and grabs the salad and beans from the fridge. While Steven is setting the table, he works silently, while thinking about how he can make Anne's life better.

After dinner, they went and cleaned up the remnants of dinner, Steven at Anne's side. "Anne?" "Yes Steven?" " Why did you marry John?" Anne sat with a grim look on her face, and pondered the question. "Well, he was handsome, he was kind and very charming. He had this boyish personality that I was drawn too, like a moth to a flame. He kept me grounded, he kept me company. But most of all, he loved me with all he had. Everything he did, he did for me, to better our future together. Why do you a- why are you looking at me like that?" Steven smiled even brighter and said "Well my dear, when you talk about John, your entire face lights up. You speak so highly of him, yet you were so unhappy. I ask simply because i want to know you better. I want to know hwo you love, and you think about things." Anne stiffens at the word love, but smiles. She doesnt answetr, but gazes around the room, taking in her surroundings. "I think we best be getting on to the evening chores Anne." "You are right, those animals must be mighty hungry" she responds turning around to face him. She looked at the clock, and watched it tick. Steven grabbed her hand and led her to th ebarn. Smelling the air, Anne relished in the smell of the hay, and she listned to the crisp wind rustle through the bare trees. As they worked, they stole glances at each other. Soon, however, the chores were finished and they retired to their respective beds.

As the winter drew on, the pair grew closer and closer together. But the closer the spring approached, the more sullen and depressed Anne became. "Anne?" "Yes Steven?" "where has your beautiful smile gone? Why dont your eyes sparkle, like the winter snow, anymore? Why do you silently cry when you think Im not looking?" Anne sighs and says "Steven, this winter Ive grown to care about you a lot. The spring draws near more and more everyday, and im not sure i can bare to see you leave. Ive already lost one man I love, I cant lose you too." "Anne, do you love me?" Annes breath hitches in her lungs, and she slowly breathes out, saying "Yes Steven, i have fallen in love with you. I fell for you months ago, but I feel guilty. My husband died mere months ago, I feel like i shouldnt have fallen in love, but it happened."" Well Anne, Ive loved you for a long time, long before that night in the blizzard." He reached over and pulled her close. Looking over his shoulder, she sees that the clock has slowed down, causing the time to be wrong.

Later that night, as Anne lay in bed, and Steven on the couch, they both lay awake thinking about the other, but gradually falling asleep.

"Anne? Anne my love?" "Whos there?" she responds. "Its me, its John, I miss you my love." "Bu-but how are you here? You died in that blizzard." "Anne, you are dreaming, but it is really me. Im always with you, you are never alone. I did see you that night, I was heartbroken, but I understand. I wasnt the man, nor the husband, that you needed me to be. So, I understand why you let Steven into your heart. Im glad someone is here that is willing to care about, and love you like I did. You and Steven have my blessing my love. Now, i must go, live your life, but never forget me. I love you Annie. Till we meet again, goodbye my love." She whispers "goodbye John, I couldn't forget about you even if I tried. I love you." Just then Steven rushes in the room, "Anne are you okay? I heard you crying, and then i heard yo whisper." Anne jerks awake, and says "I am okay Steven. John came to me in a dream, he approves of you and I. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, will you stay her and not leave in the spring?" "Anne, i will stay only if you marry me. I know i am not John, and i never will be, and i know that I'm the reason that he died,. But i want to do right by him, and do what he wanted to do. Anne? Will you be my wife?" Through tears Anne responds, "Steven, I will marry you. I got the closure needed. I still love him, and i always will. But, my heart is in your hands now. I love you Steven." "I love you too Anne." He pulls her close and kisses her, a single kiss that marked the end of a chapter, and the next beginning. At that exact same moment, the clock stopped ticking forever.