Two Loves of a Gypsy

6. "Beautiful"

I followed Ms Ostler’s instructions for picking flowers to the letter. To my father and mother our bond had grown stronger. My mother seemed to think that we were best friends while my father thought my fear was respect. If only I could tell them but if I did they would want to leave immediately even though my father hadn’t recovered. If that happened we would be caught anyway. 

For a week I went to the meadow and picked the flowers. I often found myself wandering back into the garden ruins. I only saw Gabriel in town. He would come after me and I would always get our before the conversation progressed too far. With most of my clothes soiled with dirt and with my mother I ended up wearing a set of my dancing clothes. I certainly felt better wearing something that marked me who I was. At the same time I felt like a deer in the middle of town; any second everyone could turn around and see me and then hunt me.

It was a pretty dress though. The red satin skirt flared out with netting. On the skirt there are embroidered flowers of blue and green. To get out of town without people noticing I had to wrap myself up in my cloak and go via the back streets. Now that I was out in the meadow I had taken off my cloak and shoes. It felt great to walk around without shoes and even better to walk round in my dancing clothes without having to worry about being burnt at the stake.

The wind picked up that day and I heard the familiar clanging melody of the chime. I was drawn back to the beautiful ruin of the garden. The wind was strong so that the song could be easily heard over a distance. Just one little moment of pleasure couldn’t hurt, I told myself. I dumped my things and danced to the melody. My skirt flew out behind me. The colours of the skirt blurred into those of the garden. I was so thrilled by the feeling of dirt under my feet and the wind tangling my hair. I couldn’t stop the dance it seemed to go on forever. Then at last the wind died down and the melody quietened. I stopped; my chest heaving and sweat rolling down my face. My hair stuck to the back of my neck but I once again felt like the gypsy I was meant to be.

“Beautiful” I spun round and there was Gabriel. I felt like a cornered animal. He couldn’t know, no, he wasn’t allowed to know. My dance was sacred and he was trampling all over that. He was trampling all over me!

“I was just throwing my arms about,” I said trying to cover it up but his face showed he was puzzled. I frowned back. Then looked down at my clothes, they were pretty, was that what he was talking about? He didn’t see me dance?! I quickly became shocked by his oblivious attitude. So far all I had received from people was deception hidden under their kindness but he seemed genuine.

“Thank-you,” I finally said, “it’s my favourite dress” he smiled.

“It wasn’t the dress I was calling beautiful.” I almost choked.

“Oh yeah and I bet you use that line on every woman wearing a pretty dress”

“Well yes-”

“Thank-you for you honesty” I said sarcastically while rolling my eyes.

“But, I’ve never meant it before.” My cheek flushed. Shit! I turned to face away from him. Why the hell can’t he stop sweet talking me?

“Get lost, you jerk” I said stiffly.

“But then I wouldn’t get to talk to you, Valerie, and talking to you is a pleasure that I seldom get” he somehow managed to say in one melodic line. Geez, the way he talks is suffocating.

“Well I don’t care just leave me alone.” my flushed cheeks had faded by then and so I set my determination on collecting my things. I walked back through the garden retracing my steps. Unfortunately Gabriel followed me.