Bernadette Azizi - Undying

By the time I got to the grounds at the front of the building, the taxi was already waiting on the driveway. The weather was familiarly cool, so I put on my scarf and gloves. The taxi ride was short. I almost felt guilty troubling the poor driver, so I compensated him with a good tip. I wasn’t exactly clear as to what I was going to do at the village, or more importantly, what I was going to do when I got back. I just needed to be somewhere else, in a different environment.

The village was quaint. Not big by any means and from where I stood I could see everything that it had to offer. It appeared to be hundreds of years old, unspoilt by time and saturated with original features. I guess it had everything an old English village ought to have; a church, pub, post office, supermarket and a few other shops in between. The main street was wide and cobblestoned, yet off limits to cars, and off the main street were many residential laneways. The majority of locals that were out and about were elderly, which accounted for the lack of noise. You could hear a pin drop or, in this instance, my heels crushing into the stone ground. The air was unspoiled, which allowed me to take in all the smells of the local bakery as I passed and in the distance, high above the village was a landscape that could be employed by any photographer.

Suddenly, a great idea came to me. I would buy a gift for James! Firstly, it would give me an excuse to see him when I got back, and secondly, he would love the gesture. Everything would be OK, I convinced myself. A long shot, I know, but definitely worth the try. I continued to stroll down the street, this time with a mission, looking from side to side for ideas for James’s gift. Knowing that it would only take me about 20 minutes to go through this main stretch I decided to take my time.

I noticed a wooden bench outside the bakery and sat there. I closed my eyes for a few minutes and took in a cold breath. I thought about the perfect gift, knowing that my choices would be limited to what was around me.

A cold wind rushed by me, causing me to shiver. I kept my eyes closed. I was in complete darkness. Suddenly there was laughter and only pure happiness in my mind. Still with my eyes shut, I tried to focus on where the laughter was coming from. I could smell sweet-scented flowers and hear the rustling of autumn leaves. Victoria and Jonathon were in the distance, laughing together, deeply in love and joyously happy. Jonathon was trying to catch Victoria, but she was being playful and trying to avoid being caught. He finally gently took her hand and brought her close, his laugh turning into a soft smile. Victoria was pleased to be caught. She opened the palm of his hand and placed something in it. She kissed him, passionately, before she ran away, laughing, encouraging yet another playful chase. Jonathon didn’t react. Clearly taken by the kiss, he opened his hand and with the other, lifted up a gold chain with an oval locket. Visibly pleased, he clenched it safe into his palm and with a smile back on his face again, was in pursuit of the woman he loved.

I loved it. I really loved that scene; they were obviously married and completely happy, finally some new inspiration for my story.”

“Is everything alright?” a man’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Excuse me,” I exclaimed as I opened my eyes, embarrassingly realising that I must have appeared to be asleep on the bench.

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to intrude, Catherine,” the gentleman said.

How did he know my name?

I sat up and corrected my posture. When I refocused, I realised it was Richard Cartwright.

“I noticed you sleeping here a while ago, but I didn’t want to wake you.”

“Wake me? I wasn’t asleep. I was just closing my eyes and thinking,” I replied self-consciously.

“Oh, thinking? What about?”

“Nothing!” was my quick and defensive reply.

“It didn’t seem like nothing. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have said that it looked like you were enjoying a man’s company in your thoughts.”

“What? That’s ridiculous!” I shouted back, offended by his suggestion. I refused to talk about it with him any longer, and got up to walk away.

“Wait!” He grabbed my hand and pulled me back down onto the seat. “Please stay. I will go. It’s your thinking bench and I was out of line, I’m sorry.”

I tried to keep a serious look on my face, but I couldn’t and we both broke into laughter.

“Let’s start this conversation over again, OK?” he pleaded.

“OK,” I agreed and sat back down.

“What brings you to our humble village this gloomy Sunday morning, may I ask?”

“Well, I am looking for a gift for a friend actually. Maybe you could help me. I naïvely didn’t expect a limited amount of shops here. Is there a jewellery shop close by?”

“Jeweller? Of course! I will take you to the best jeweller in London if you like.”

“No… that’s not necessary. I’m sure there is something here… in town.”

“Alright… I know just the place. Very reputable,” he paused for a second and then continued. “Well it happens to be the only one,” he joked with a wink. “I will take you now if you like,” he said as he stood up and put his hand out.

“Oh, OK, thank you…” I got up without his help, which I could see took him by surprise.

As we made our way to the jeweller, Richard gave me a guided tour, enlightening me on the history of the village and the people of the town. It was all very interesting and I was grateful, but inside, my stomach was turning over and over. I felt uneasy that I was walking around here with him and not James. Luckily for me, we didn’t have to walk far. The jeweller, a tall, bald man in a crimson velvet jacket, seemed very happy to see us, and welcomed Richard as we walked in.

I wondered why someone like Richard be spending his Sunday in such a quiet village .

“Nicolas, I would like you to meet Catherine, who is looking for a gift for a friend,” he explained as he turned to me and smiled.

“Hello,” I replied, still amazed by the colour of Nicolas’s jacket, which was quite audacious for an Englishman.

“Good day. Do you have something in mind?” Nicolas enquiry as he motioned to the glass cabinet in front of him.

“Um… kind of. May I?” I said, requesting permission to browse.

“Of course, please do. Take all the time you need,” he said.

Nicolas then came out from behind the glass counter towards Richard and shook his hand as they started talking. I scanned through the items he had on display. He had unusual rings, bangles, necklaces, almost everything. But I couldn’t seem to find what I was looking for. Both Richard and Nicolas must have noticed my disappointed moan as they both turned to look at me.

“No luck?” Richard yelled out from across the shop.

“No. I mean you have many beautiful items. But not what I am looking for,” I replied.

“What is it that you are looking for?” Nicolas asked, now more than curious to help me. “I do have other stock packed away, as I can’t have everything out at once.”

“Well, what I was after was a gold oval locket.”

“Oval locket… Yes, actually, I do have one. But it’s estate jewellery. Is that fine?”

“Of course, that’s fine.”

“I won’t be a minute,” he said, excusing himself as he went out back.

I looked across at Richard and gave him a half-hearted smile. I wasn’t quite sure why he was being so helpful. I just wished it was James here with me now, not him.

“Here we are, how’s this one?” he said as he took the locket out of its box and placed it on a black velvet mat. “That’s it! It’s perfect! I’ll take it!” I couldn’t contain my joy. “Thank you, thank you!”