Halloween

1925

“Hello, my lovely.”

Marie turned and let out a sigh of relief as she saw who it was.
“Hello,” she said, smiling a little even if her heart wasn’t in it. He stared at her as if he knew the smile wasn’t truly genuine.

“How are you feeling?” he asked. Spotting a chair, he sat down on it but Marie stayed standing.
“I’m fine.”
“I know when you lie,” he said as soon as she had stopped speaking.
“I’m… I’m stressed and sad,” she admitted. She ran a hand through her hair, not caring if he could see the third eye. She didn’t have to worry about that around him. “ A man proposed to me not too long ago and then the next day he left, saying he never loved me at all.”
“I do believe that is the story it would like to hear tonight.” Marie wanted to mutter ‘of course it is’ but refrained and simply started to explain what had happened.

Adrian had accepted her, Marie hadn’t expected that. Now, she felt a little more relaxed as she sipped her wine. They had been dating for a while now and she noticed he held a box in his hand.
“Marie, I don’t care if you’re a freak, I want to marry you.”
“I want to marry you too,” Marie whispered as a smile spread across her face.

“I thought him perfect.”
“No one is perfect,” said Edward.
Marie shook her head. “No, and especially not him.” There was bitter resentment clear in her voice and her arms were crossed in front of her.
“Tell me, what did he do?”

Marie woke to a loud bang. Groaning, she rolled over and looked over at where Adrian was supposed to be. The bed was empty. Quickly, she sat up and tried to see where he was.The closet was open, all of his clothes gone.
“Adrian?” she called out. She didn’t understand why his clothes were gone. She got to her feet and headed to the living room where Adrian was leaving. “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving, I proposed and you said yes, that wins me the money from the bet.”
“But… the ring-”
“You can keep it, it’s been on your finger, freak. I don’t want it back.”
“Adrian, please, I… I don’t understand, did you not love me?”
“No.”

“I should have known,” she said quietly. She wiped tears from her cheeks. “And that only happened a few weeks ago.”
“A pity, he could have  married a rather beautiful and kind woman.”
“I’m a freak,” Marie sighed. “I’m not beautiful, not to them.”
“I find you beautiful, I think you will find someone suitable to marry,” said Edward. Marie looked up at him with a confused expression.
“Who would ever want to marry me? I’m a freak and I’d just out live them. How do I explain that after twenty years. They’re greying and ageing and I still look young. What happens then?”
Edward stood and took a step toward her. “I do not know the answer to that but do not rule out marriage, someone might still want to marry you.”

Marie wasn’t sure how to answer but Edward started walking away.
“Goodnight, Marie. It is not you tonight,” he said as he turned to face her. He tipped his top hat before stepping into the shadows of her kitchen.
“Goodnight, Edward,” said Marie as she realised the mist hadn’t faded yet. Within the next few seconds, it vanished. Marie wasn’t sure how to feel about the conversation they had just had but smiled to herself. She was starting to enjoy his company, despite to near death experience she had the last she had seen him.