The Other Side

A Wedding

Matthew sat in the hallway staring at the door in front of him trying to decide what had just happened.  That was not possible was it?  He had so many questions and not a single answer.  He didn't know what to do.  He slowly got up to his feet.  He reached down and brushed the dirt of his jeans and t-shirt.  He suddenly realized that he could not remember what was happening before arriving here.  It was clear he was in a accident, but where was he going?  He couldn't remember.  He had to figure out what was going on and fast.  It was obvious he was running out of time.  He took a deep breath and then gently knocked on the door in front of him.  "Come in." Came a male's voice from behind the door.  Matthew reached out for the door knob his hand trembling in fear as he turned it and opened the door once more. 

As the door opened the first thing he noticed was that this was clearly not the room he had been in before.  It was still a bedroom but the walls were white and the bed was made.  A young man sat on the bed looking up at Matthew.  "Who are you?" The gentleman asked as he straightened his tie, and stood up to greet his guest.  Matthew was completely confused but he figured he should play along.  What other choice did he have.  "Umm... hi.  I'm Matthew." He said as he took a step further into the room.  "Matthew eh... you have have a strange speech Matthew.  I am Luther." He said reaching out to shake Matthew's hand.  Matthew reluctantly reached out and his hand and shook Luther's.  "Yeah I'm sure I do.  Anyway what are you doing here Luther?" Matthew asked wondering if he knew what was going on.  "Oh I died on the property many years ago.  A gardening accident." He said clarifying how he died.  Luther laughed slightly at the silly way he lost his life and shook his head, "The things we do for the love of a woman." he finished laughing yet again.  Matthew looked up at him confused.  "I don't think I quite understand." Matthew said trying to find out anything he could.  "Oh it is such a long story are you sure you wish to hear it?" Luther asked looking curiously at Matthew's clothing.  It was very strange to him.  "Yeah sure what happened?" Matthew asked impatiently.

"It was many years ago now I suppose." Luther said beginning his story.  As he started to tell his story the old dusty house began to slip away taking Matthew into what he could only assume was Luther's memory.  "I just finished the arrangements to marry the beautiful young Magnolia with her parents.  You see she was the most desired flower at the time and I made sure to make my deal before anyone could come steal her away from me." As Luther spoke his cheeks flushed just by the thought of this beautiful young girl, "It was the day before the wedding where she would be belong to me." he finished with a smile.  Matthew looked around and he no longer recognized his surroundings.  He was outside and it was a beautiful sunny day.  He saw Luther walking through the gardens straightening his tie for what he could only assume was his wedding.  Matthew decided it would be for the best for him to follow Luther and not to interrupt so he sat quietly listening to Luther as he continued his story.

It was then a beautiful young woman appeared from the bushes.  "Luther these bushes must be trimmed and cleaned in order for our wedding to be, sir." She said sweetly offering the gardening shears to Luther.  Luther smiled taking the shears from her.  "Of course my lovely Magnolia, I will do anything for you." He said as he began to trim the bushes.  The sun beat down it was a very hot day and there was Luther in a full suit using garden shears to clean up the bushes before the wedding.  Luther lifted his arm to wipe the sweat from his brow.  "Oh heat you will be the death of me yet." He said with a laugh as he continued to garden.  "Don't fall to sleep Luther..." Came a quiet voice from nowhere.  Luther looked around seemingly trying to discover the owner of the voice just as Matthew had.  "Who is there?  Announce yourself." He said in a strong and commanding voice.  But there would be no answer.  With no warning at all Luther fell into a deep slumber falling onto the shears.  They ripped through the skin and into his throat.  Blood flowed from his neck as he died there in the garden.  

Matthew coughed hard as if the shears were in his own throat.  Everything went dark as he gasped for air.  Just as suddenly as it happened the pain subsided.  He opened his eyes to find himself back in the bedroom of the rickety old house.  "It was quite tragic you see.  I never did wed my beautiful Magnolia..." Luther said his voice trailing off into sadness.  "I don't understand Luther.  Who was that who spoke to you?" Matthew asked trying to remember everything but it was fading as fast as he saw it.  Luther looked over at Matthew, "You know I am not sure." He said shrugging it off as if it was no big deal.  There was more to this story but it was clear that Luther did not know what that was.  "I miss my beautiful Magnolia..." Luther said his voice trailing off as he disappeared.

Matthew jumped up as Luther disappeared.  "Where did you go?  Luther?" He yelled as he looked around for where Luther had gone.  "You should not be here..." Matthew jumped again as he heard the mysterious voice yet again.  "What is going on here?" He asked confused and angry.  "GET OUT!" Screamed the mysterious voice.  Matthew ran out of the room the door slamming behind him.  He continued to run back down the stairs and to the front door to escape.  He had enough of this game it was time for him to wake up.

"I would not go out there if I were you." Delilah said looking up at Matthew taking his hand in both of her small hands.  "You will die if you leave here before breaking the curse... I have seen it..." She said sadly looking down.  "Delilah you're back." He said happily as he saw the young girl again.  "Well of course I am sir... I can not leave." She said with a smile as she looked up at him.  Matthew got down on his knees so he would be at eye level with Delilah.  "I am sorry if I am being insensitive Delilah.  I'm just really trying to figure out what is going on here.  I met Luther upstairs.  He told me about a voice he heard right before his death." Matthew said explaining such things to the young girl.  It felt wrong to speak of these things but what other choice did he have?  "I need to know Delilah did you hear a voice before you died as well?" He asked.  Delilah bit her lip gently and swayed back and forth as she looked up at the ceiling trying really hard to remember.  "I do not remember sir I am sorry." She said pouting sadly that she couldn't help him more.  Matthew couldn't help but smile.  "Well do you think you can tell me what happened to you Delilah, how you ended up here?" He asked her trying to be sympathetic but failing miserably.  Delilah shook her head.  "It is not often a spirit is willing to share their last moments among the living.  It hurts too much." She said as a tear fell from her eye and streamed down her cheek.  "Oh I'm so sorry Delilah I didn't mean to upset you.  Maybe we can talk about it later?" He asked smiling at her trying to cheer her up.  She smiled sweetly and nodded.  "Of course sir." She said being cut off by another voice.  "YOU SHOULD NOT SPEAK TO HIM GIRL!" The voice yelled clearly at Delilah.  She shivered out of fear and then before Matthew could say a word she disappeared again.  "I will find out what is going on here whether you like it or not." He said to the unexplained voice as if it was a person.  It was at that very moment that Matthew flew across the house slamming hard into a wall in another room.  Matthew groaned in pain as he hit hard.  "Do not sass me boy it will be the last thing you do." The unexplained voice said as Matthew fell into a deep exhausted slumber.