As in my world, Marian was the hard one. “You better leave now before I call the police. I don’t know what you two are up to, but you are scum to try and use the death of our daughter to pull a scam on us.”
1011
As in the old days, she put my back up, so I answered her in the same tone of voice. “Put that in writing! I mean that, write down that we came here, what you told us about Cherine, put how she died. I am going back in time and I will save her. I want that letter to show you, for you will not remember she died.”
I was insistent, refusing a ‘no’ for an answer. Finally her father wrote it down. I insisted Marian sign it also as I know her too well.
“They must be from the press, that is why they want this letter. They will print a story about us, to make us look ridiculous.”
“Marian. If I tell you something about yourself, something I could not possibly know, would you believe me and sign?”
“What sort of thing.”
“For instance, you dislike chocolates. You were pregnant with Cherine before you married. You, oh god, I just thought of something. I have a photo of her when she was nine years old. Would that convince you?”
I pulled out the photo of my Cherine and gave it to her. Both of them looked at it and I saw the change before the tears came.
“I really do love her. She is my wife in my time. Can you really say you did not feel my grief? Oh Marian, you cannot even imagine what a lovely person she grows up to be. She is my life to me.”
She asked me a number of questions about Cherine. I talked about my love, about her cheeky spirit, her huge heart and her devotion to me. I told her of her gesture that captured my heart. When I told of how she turned and gave me a cheeky smile and wriggled her fingers behind her back at me, Marian burst into tears.
“That is her!”
I think half believing us now, she pulled to her the paper her husband had written on. She scribbled something and signed it. As she handed me the paper she spoke, her voice still full of grief. “If you are able to save her and you say I will not remember she died, if you call here I will not believe you, even with this paper. Show me the photograph.” She took a last long look and handed it back. I returned it to her.
“I will have to return to my world first. I can get a new one. A word of warning - it is just a theory, but it might be right. When I go back and save her, you might continue to exist with a dead daughter. I might be forcing time to create a new world where she lives. If that happens, please do not despair. At least you will know she lives, for she will, she is going to marry me. I have a daughter by her, our daughter is named Rosie. She is as sweet and stubborn as her mother, though not so cheeky.”
This statement was the ice-breaker. She was hungry for stories about her daughter, how we met, when was Rosie born, what she is like. I had to prefabricate, changing so many details that I was getting confused. Keith tried to help me out, but I sensed he was secretly laughing at me. I could not stop myself from asking. I turned to the father.
“My Cherine has a gift. She has an extra sense normal people do not have. She is able to sense the feelings of others, with a strong gift of empathy also. Had you noticed this in your daughter?”
“She is extremely sensitive to feelings. I had to caution her not to show it to others; they would see it as a weakness and exploit it.”
“You were wrong. When she met me she opened up, her gift opening doors in my mind. Because of her there are a growing number of people who call themselves Cherinians, in her honour. Her gifts have made it possible for a new world to come into existence, one where no Cherinian can hurt another human being. We cannot even stand to feel suffering in others.”
I did not talk about our other gifts, but explained the consequences of the few gifts I did talk about.
“She is not only my love, she is the single most important human being to have ever existed. Because of her powers I was able to come here today. I swear to you both, I will save her. If this world does branch off, I might not be able to return here, as the new world where she lives might be the only reality I can visit. What I will do is first return here, bringing with me a number of photographs of her and our daughter Rosie. At least you will have something to keep your hearts warm with love. If I then do not return, you will know it is because I cannot - because of being successful in saving her.”
1012
We left them with a new hope in their eyes. The father came out to the car and leant down to my window. He spoke softly. “If you can return with the photos it will help make the grief bearable.”
“I will be back. I promise.”
Keith leant over. “Robert has not told you, he is leader of the Cherinians. If he makes a promise, he always keeps it. Rest assured, he will be back.”
We returned to the farm. Robert wanted to know if I had met Cherine. It still hurt too much for me to talk. Keith explained to both father and son.
“He has promised to return and save her. He will be back soon. Will the two of you promise to help him?”
Before they could answer, the protector snatched us, taking us back to our own world. We found ourselves back in my home, the girls still sitting as they had been six weeks ago.
I refused to tell them what had happened, I told them I am opening my mind to them, they must all come in and see for themselves. To them we had only been gone about half an hour, it would have seemed unbelievable if they did not. Annabelle preferred to go into Keith.
“You are not going back alone Robert. I am coming with you.”
“You better come as an adult then. I cannot explain to them why you are still a child and mother and wife.”
“Robert, I will be able to meet my father again. I saw him in your mind. Oh thank you love.” She came into my arms and cried.
I spoke to the protector. It agreed. “Cherine, I want Rosie to come with us. Cherine, make yourself about twenty five. Rosie, I want you as a seven year old. Get whatever photos we have of both of you. We are going back soon as you are ready and I’ve had a cup of coffee. Girls, sorry but I really need a cigarette.”
I took time for a shower, had my coffee and cigarette and took our camera. Cherine brought me a video cassette. It was from our weekends in Cyprus. I thought it would be too confusing, what with her appearing at different ages. She insisted, so I let her take it with.
“Cherine, this thing that killed you there, did it happen to you in your life?”
“I asked mum since I do not remember. She says yes, she is coming over.”
We told Marian and Alki what had happened. She asked to come into my mind and see it for herself. I showed her. She sat afterwards with her face hidden as she sobbed.
“What wounds you have re-opened Robert. Yes, Cherine got sick, she had swallowed tablets she found in the bathroom, and we took her to the local public hospital. There had been a soccer match and they were full of hooligans needing stitches and so on. We sat there with Cherine waiting, when she began to spasm. Luckily a black doctor was passing by and he grabbed her and saved her life.”
“It seems that doctor did not pass by in the other world. How do I make sure he does?”
“I will give you half a million to take with you Robert. Pay him to watch out for her and save her. She may be a different Cherine, but she is still my granddaughter.”
He hurried off to get the money. I called Laura to come over with her mother. I made them both see what had happened with the other Robert and his father.
“Mum, this is not the man you knew here. He truly loved you. I would like to put back a little magic in his life. Can I take Laura with, I want him to meet her.”
1013
“I did try to kill myself Robert. Your father found me and took me to the hospital. To think that my death would have changed him!”
“I got the better end of the bargain mum. He made the life of his Robert a misery. I escaped all that and still have my mother - and the sweetest sister in the whole world.”
We arrived at the farm, in the lounge. It was empty. I looked out and saw them going about their chores. I told the girls to stay inside, I did not want to give them a shock.
“Dad, Robert, I am back. I have a few surprises with me.” They waited as I walked up to them. “How long since I left?”
“You left yesterday.”
“Dad, would you like to meet Laura?”
His face paled. “What do you mean!!”
“I brought her with, she would like to meet you.” His face froze for a short moment. “Remember dad, she is only a little girl.” I saw his face soften and he nodded. I called to her.
I had to hold up Robert as she walked out. He cried as if his heart were breaking. I waited, giving Laura her moment. Dad tried to put out his hand to shake hers, but she walked past it and hugged him. He rested his hand on top of her head and then hugged her in return.
“I think in my heart I did not believe you Robert, you have made it too real now.” He knelt down and looked at her closely. “Yes, I can see your mother in you. Does she hate me very much Laura?”
“No, my mummy does not hate anyone. She is too kind.”
“Dad, Laura. Hold it a second. The two of you are going to have lots of time to talk. How about we give Robert his surprise?”
Robert began to shake as he stammered, “You cannot mean, no it is not possible…” He saw me wave for them to come out and the fear in him was a palpable thing. I whispered in an aside to him, “Stiffen your spine damn it, I do not want the first impression to be of me shaking with fear.” He stiffened, but tears poured down his cheeks as Cherine and Rosie walked up to him.
“This is Cherine, my first love. Dad, you will also want to meet my daughter. This is the daughter of Cherine and I, Rosie.”
We helped them get to the lounge to sit. We had turned their world upside down for them. There was now awe mixed with fear and wonder. I decided I will have to give them the rest of that day and night for them to relax and get to know each other. Still, though it may have been nasty of me, I could not resist asking, “Dad, now that you have met Cherine, do you still blame me for loving her?”
“But she is an adult.”
“We chose to come this way so that her parents can see her as an adult. To see how their daughter would have grown up. We also wanted them to see their granddaughter. If she came as a child I would have had to go into a lot of explanations. I do not think that would have been kind, not after the death of their daughter.”
“Dad, what he means is that he is too scared. Don’t worry, I’ll tell them the truth.”
“Cherine, you will do nothing of the kind!”
“I will! I will not lie to them Robert. Do not worry, they will not hate you.”
“Then you better go on your own. You are wrong Cherine.” I stared at her with despair.
1014
“Daughter, may I call you that? I feel he may be right. It will be difficult enough meeting you after the death of their little girl. For them to be told that you are also still only a little girl and making love with him may prove to be too much. Have pity on them.”
“But I want to show them a video I brought with. I wanted to give it to them. They will see me there at different ages.”
“So you tell them the video is made up out of different videos taken at different times. Sometimes it is kinder to lie daughter. Could we also see the video?”
We all felt how alt Robert has fallen in love with Cherine. Not his ‘in love’ of before. He was totally smitten by her as a real person now. Watching the video, he picked the girls out, knew Wendy instantly and I felt the ache in him.
“Would you like us to make a copy of the video in the morning?” He nodded. “Robert, this is breaking your heart. Was I wrong to bring them?”
“I loved before; it was a hopeless love, without even the dream of being able to meet them. You did not do wrong, thank you. At least now I do not feel that maybe I am crazy.”
“He is just as sweet as you are Robbie.”
“Thanks Rosie. I wish we could show them how you look as a grown up. I…Cherine!!” I started to shake. “Cherine, we are still linked. I am so used to it I had not realised!”
Cherine laughed out aloud, her amusement at my stupidity a joy for me to share from her. “I was wondering when you would realise.”
“It is not funny! If you brought the link with you, what about the others still at home!!”
“Between the son of Tasso, Natalie and Socrati, they will manage. Stop worrying Robert. As far as they are concerned we will only be gone minutes.”
“God I hope nobody was jumping or in the void!!”
“You did not check?”
“No, my mind was too full of what would happen here.”
She put her fingers to my face tenderly. “Don’t worry love. I checked with your protector before we left.”
I called to my healer and found it was also with me. I sent it to check on our father and Robert. I told it to work overnight as I want it with me the next day.
“Dad, would you like to see Rosie as an adult?” He did not answer, just staring at her. Cherine got up and took her to the bedroom. I sensed what they were doing and could hardly contain my grin.
They walked in and they were met with disbelief. Cherine was now seven and Rosie over twenty.
“I’m sorry, we did not bring any extra clothes with so we had to swop.”
His father surprised me by his sensitivity. “This is cruel what you have done. You tell my son that Cherine is dead in this world and you bring these two to make him see what he can never have.”
“Maybe, I do not know…it is a gamble. Robert has understood, if he is anything like me.” I explained about my plans and what I fear may happen. “If a new world is created where little Cherine is saved, I may never be able to return. As far as I am concerned, I will return here to you, but as far as you are concerned I will never return. With that in mind, I felt I had to give you both this chance to meet them. Only the two of you can say if I was wrong to do this.”
“Dad, I’m glad they came. I already loved them, at least I’ve now seen the girls I love - and we’ll both know I’m not crazy.”
1015
Cherine got up and went to him. She kissed him on the lips and stroked his cheek. “If you do not see us again, I want you to remember that since I love my Robert, I also love you, for you are a part of each other.”
She went to his father and kissed him too. “I felt the change in Robert when he returned to me. Where there had been a place of pain in him, like a big black hole, there is now a place of love. Maybe you feel you are not really his daddy, but in his heart you are.”
Timidly Laura said, “Now you have two sons and a daughter. If my mummy had stayed with you, would you have loved me?”
“Yes. Very much. It would not have mattered who your real father was, I would have loved you.”
“Then I really am your whole sister Robbie, just like I told you.” She tittered, her hand to her mouth. “Actually now I am your whole sister to both of you.”
I was running out of energy, despite it being early in the evening. “It is time for us to go to sleep. Laura, you will have the whole of tomorrow, maybe after tomorrow too, to get to know your second daddy and brother. It has been a very long day for me.”
Soon as we were alone Cherine turned to me. “You were not jealous when I kissed him!”
“How could I be love? What you did was out of your love for me.”
Suddenly little devils were dancing in her eyes, knowing how I would react, however I try to hide it. “You mean I could go and have sex with him tonight and you would not mind?”
I grabbed her arm and swung her to me, a huge grin on my face. “My zone of comfort does not extend quite that far love.”
“What zone of comfort?”
“The one that comes from knowing how deeply you love me.”
Rosie watched us with a tolerant air. She was enjoying being the adult while her mother was the little girl. “Can I make love to him?”
“Do you want to?”
“Maybe…”
All I did was look at her, knowing she was teasing, but I could sense her ego was getting the better of her.
“Maybe I should.” She went towards the door and looked back at me, searching for a reaction. “Would you also say I did it from my love for you?”
Cherine was furious with her. “No. I would say you did it because you are silly.”
“Cherine! Let her go if she wants to. I’ve never asked that any of you stay with me against your will.”
Suddenly both girls were looking at Rosie their faces impassive, their thoughts hidden. Rosie stared back at them. I waved my hand. “Go on Rosie. If it is what you want, none of us will hold it against you.”
“You would! All of them would.”
Suddenly I was angry. “Get out of here. Go!!”
“Robert!” Cherine was aghast that I was pushing her daughter to go.
“I have had enough of this. Let her go.” I locked my mind shut to all of them. The pain was too terrible for me to hide it in any other way.
1016
Suddenly Rosie was crying. “You knew I was only teasing, I did not want to go. Now you have turned it so that I have to. I’ll never forgive you for this!!” She pulled the door open and slammed it behind her.
“Oh Robert, what have you done!!”
“Leave him alone Cherine. He is dying inside. Just because he blocked his mind you cannot feel it?”
“How do we stop this?”
“Only Rosie can now.”
Without a word I undressed and lay down, lying at the edge of the bed so that they have to lie behind me. I had been through too much within one day, I was emotionally drained. The after-effects of hearing that my Cherine is dead were now hitting me. I needed to cry, to grieve, and was forced to control myself for the sake of my loves. I sensed Rosie still outside the door, on her haunches, crying. I heard through her ears the sound of footsteps and wondered what she will do when alt Robert appears. Will she go with him out of wilfulness?
“Rosie! What is wrong girl?”
“I had a fight with Robbie.”
“Feel like a cup of tea? Come, let’s go to the kitchen.” Robert's father took her arm and she got up and followed him.
He got the story out of her bit by bit. I could see from his face his shock. He sighed. “Your ways are not mine Rosie. I am trying very hard not to judge you. Do you want my honest opinion?”
“Yes.” Her voice was small and frightened.
He touched her hand. “You did wrong. I read in the diary how you tease each other, well, how you all like to tease your Robert. Did you remember that for him it was just hours ago that he found out that the Cherine of this world is dead. I do not think teasing him was what he needed tonight.”
“Cherine teased him first. When mummy teases him he never minds, why does he mind if I do? He doesn’t love me.”
“It was Cherine who died. Your mother teasing him was a way of saying to him, look, don’t grieve, I am still here with you. What was your teasing Rosie? Was it your way of trying to get him to be jealous?”
She hesitated. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Robert spoke from the door. “Rosie, no Robert would give you what you want. You do not know your father? Did you really think he would show in any way that he wants you to stay? All you did was to feed his fear that he does not deserve you.”
“What of my fears. Why can’t he show me also that he loves me?”
“He is showing you he loves you by letting you go. Has my son ever shown any selfishness Rosie?”
“No. Well, not in important ways. I have been stupid haven’t I? He is always saying us babies are so much more mature than the grown ups!”
“My god, I’d forgotten you are still a baby!” They both stared at her, shocked again.
She giggled and got up. “He still has his mind blocked to me. I suppose I better go back and say I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to.” She turned and looked at Robert, surprised. “Just go to him. Hold him. That is what he needs. That is what I would need.”
She kissed them both on the cheek and came back to us. When she came in, she undressed without a word. She went to her mother.
1017
“I have just been reminded I am a baby. I want to become one again. Will you put me in his arms please, I want to feel daddy holding me.”
Cherine put her up against my chest and I wrapped my arms around her, cradling her tenderly. Now my tears were for my pillow only, but they were of happiness. I felt Cherine up against my back. I opened my mind and sent Cherine a warm wave of love.
We had two copies of the video made - I wanted one for us. I dropped Laura and Robert back at the farm and we drove to Cherine’s home. I could feel her nervousness as we came close. Seeing the old hard version of her mother, and the father she had lost so tragically, it was a lot to ask of her. I pulled off the road and folded her within my arms.
“Tragedy has turned them into quite nice people. I think they will be more afraid of you love. If it gets too much, let me know, we’ll leave.”
She gave me a grown up smile, but her eyes were sad. I kissed her nose and drove up to the house.
“I promised to return and I have. I have a surprise with me. Marian, I brought Cherine, your granddaughter too. Would you like to see them? Don’t worry, you will recognise your daughter.”
They both nodded, but could not wait as I went out for them and they followed me. The girls were standing by the side of the car. The shock of seeing her as an adult prevented them from recognising Cherine. I smiled at Cherine.
“It is too much for them love. I think they will need to see you as a five year old. We better go in first.”
Her father was holding Marian who was visibly shaking. They stood there mutely while we all trooped in.
“Marian, Cherine will need…” I laughed nervously, “what am I saying. Cherine, change into a five year old please.”
“Are you sure Robert, it will be a shock for them.”
“Okay, hold on.” I turned to her parents. “When I came here with Keith I told you that all my powers stemmed from Cherine, this world had no magic for me without her. Now that she is here, the magic has come with her. One of the gifts we have is of being able to change our body to the age we want. I think it would help you to see her as a five year old. Would you like that? Would it convince you that this is your daughter?”
“Oh please…yes!”
Cherine seemed to shrink. She was lost in her adult clothes, but she untangled herself and stepped out in the nude.
“Mummy, daddy?”
As I had expected, being used to her; Marian fainted. Her father looked as if he would also, but then he put out his arms and she stepped up to him. He pulled her to him, almost rough in his need and squeezed. He ran his hands over her face and tears streamed out of his eyes. Cherine also began to cry and kissed him.
“Oh daddy, I’m so sorry I didn’t want to. It was my fault…” He shushed her and continued to kiss and then feel her face as if to convince himself. Rosie had gone to Marian and held her head on her lap, softly stroking her face. Marian opened her eyes, lost in her shock.
“Grandma, it is me, I am Rosie your granddaughter. I’m so happy to see you again.”
Marian gave her a weak smile and saw Cherine in the arms of her husband. She cried out and got to her feet reaching for her little girl. He forced himself to give her up. To give them half an hour to get used to seeing their little girl again, I took the opportunity to go outside for a smoke. Rosie followed me, her face bemused.
1018
“Give them time love. It was a hell of a shock for them to see their daughter again. They will be happy to see you.”
“I know. Robbie, I like him, grandpa I mean.”
“There is something nice about him. We might have a problem I had not thought of. Marian is not going to want to let us take Cherine with us - and I don’t blame her…guess we better go back in.”
I saw that Cherine, driven by her own needs, had left her mother and was in her father’s arms again. I went to Marian.
“Please do not feel bad, it is not that Cherine loves her father more. In our life you still exist. Her father died in a car accident when she was somewhere between six and seven and she has all this time blamed herself for his death.”
She stared at me with horror. “He died! How could she be to blame? She is just a little girl.”
“He was driving and she got very unhappy, needing him. I told you of her gifts. She…telepathically called out to her father and he tried to do a U-turn to come to her. Another car hit his and he died within hours.”
“Oh god!! Oh my poor baby.”
“I’ll give you time with her, just let her heal herself first?” I pleaded. She looked at me as if suddenly aware of me again for the first time.
“You really do love her!”
“With all my heart. Marian, there is another little girl here feeling unwanted. This is Rosie your granddaughter.”
She now gave her attention to Rosie. They were soon chatting intimately. Rosie let it slip that she has two sisters which nearly gave me a heart attack. When I said they could not all come she let the matter drop, only asking later what their names are.
Cherine and Rosie slept in her childhood room while I slept on the couch. Both parents called in sick and stayed home the next morning. We spent the whole day together. I saw the sickness in their eyes at the thought of us leaving and kept putting off our time of departure. As it got late, I finally plucked up my courage.
“I am so sorry to do this. We will have to leave in the morning. Cherine, I think you can now give them the video. It is a montage of your daughter at different ages. As you will be able to guess, she was fooling around and kept changing her body age. I am now glad she did, at least you will be able to see her at most ages.”
They watched through to the end. They must have seen all my other girls too, but did not question us. I knew they would think of their questions later, but I kept quiet.
“How old are you actually?” her father asked.
“Eric, why not leave that open. It might be better you don’t pinpoint her age.”
“I have to tell daddy Robert. Please?”
*You are going to upset them, undo all the good your coming did.*
Vehemently she insisted, *I think it won’t.*
I was not willing to order her not to and I could sense she really believes that because they love her they’ll be understanding about the sex with me while she is a child - maybe because her mother did in the end. Obviously her gift of empathy is failing her because of her own deep need, so I decided there is nothing else I can say, but “Okay”, and then wait for the explosion.
1019
Unfortunately I was right. They were first shocked and then they flew into a rage. They even threatened to have me arrested. Cherine ran to my side and gathering her clothes she changed, quickly dressed and faced them defiantly. This brought them back to earth. They looked at us with horror in their eyes, but their threats stopped.
“God I wish we had brought Wendy.”
“Bring her Robert. We need her.”
I asked the protector to bring her. They nearly fainted when she materialised.
“Wendy baby, we need your help. Cherine told her parents her real age and they are horrified. I do not think they will listen to us. Can you sing for them?”
She stood with her chin on her chest as she thought for a while. She turned and walked to the middle of the room. Her voice began to shimmer throughout the room, sparkling like golden drops of sunlight. I realised what she was doing and began to talk. I told our story with Wendy weaving her magic around my telling, making it all come alive.
As her singing faded away I finished with an explanation. “I lied to you. We do not come from your future, we come from an alternate world. I told you how I could perhaps save your daughter, but that it might force time to create a new world, in that world she was saved while in this one she was not? Something like that must have happened somewhere in our past.”
Her father stood up, pacing across the room without speaking. Suddenly he turned to me. “You are obviously a good man, you showed great kindness to us in bringing our daughter to us. However, I still think you are despicable. Everything you told us, it is nothing but camouflage. The truth is, you did not have to destroy a little girl with your lust. I think it might be better you leave.”
I got up to leave. All my girls came to me and we went to the door silently, Cherine weeping.
“Where do you think you are going Cherine?” She turned and looked at him, she turned back and looked at me. Suddenly she was my little cub as she turned back to them in a white hot rage.
“How can you even imagine I would choose you. You heard how my real mother tried to part me from Robert and I nearly killed her. You are not my real parents. My daddy died! Damn you, Robert tried to bring a bit of the magic of love into your lives and into ours and because I was stupid enough to believe in your love, I insisted on telling you the truth and you dare to attack him, calling him despicable!! Meeting you was a mistake and you will not be seeing us again. You did not even bother to get to know my daughter, you heard our sweet Wendy sing and you did not even bother to ask her name. This is my family - not you. Goodbye.”
She walked out ahead of us and I felt a sickness in me.
“Robert, please do not let her leave like this. Please?”
“Marian, I do not know what I can do now. I saw a need in you and wanted to give you something to hold on to in your grief. I also knew the pain in my little girl, my love, and hoped to heal her by arranging for her to meet her father. You heard our story, but did not understand a thing. Eric I will not forgive you for what you did to her.”
I saw him run towards their kitchen as we left. We were getting into the car when I saw him run out. He had a knife in his hand. I thought he was going to attack me, but made sure I was in front of my girls anyway. He stopped in front of me.
“You said you killed me on your other world. Great, now you can also say you killed me in this one.” His face wild with grief and pain he slammed the knife into his chest. Cherine screamed and I turned around and gave her a smile. He had made the mistake of talking first, giving me time to instruct my protector. The knife bounced off him.
He dropped to his knees and wailed. His arms around his chest he rocked as he wept in despair. Rosie left my side in a flash and dropped to her knees and held him. My unforgiving Cherine just sat in the car. I pulled at her and we took her father back into the house. When we sat him down, he held to Rosie. She shocked us all.
“Grandpa, I do not think you want to be touching me. I am also the lover of my father. I am his wife. I am a Cherinian!! We have our own rules, our own way of living.”
1020
That got through to him. Rosie also felt my anger and turned to face me defiantly. I did not speak, whatever has to be said will be done in our own home, not in front of outsiders. She turned to him.
“Eric, would it help to hear our story again? Would you try to listen and understand this time?”
“It will not be necessary. I cannot help the way I feel, but I do not want to lose my daughter, please help me, what can I do?”
I answered for Rosie, “She is not yours to lose. Her father is dead, her mother lives next door to us and knows all you know and loves us both. She knows about Rosie, about…what does it matter. If you cannot see past your anger I cannot help you.”
Cherine put her hand in mine. “I am sorry love, you tried to stop me, but I thought because I loved him he would understand and be happy for me. I was wrong.”
“Cherine, do not go the other extreme, do you think he would have reacted the way he did if he did not love his daughter? Because you can change to an adult, you think people will not be angered by my loving you girls? I keep telling you how the world would view my making love to you. Rosie, the protector is taking you home now - say goodbye.”
She tried to protest, but I ordered the protector to take her. She vanished.
I really felt there was no point in prolonging this visit, but did not know how to end it with minimum pain to my little girl.
“Marian, I promised you photos. You got them, a video too. I hope they give you some comfort. I am going back to save your Cherine. That is a promise I will keep for my sake as well as yours. My Marian told me what happened in our world to save her. I can and will save your little girl. Can you at least give my Cherine a hug?”
She put out her arms and they clung to each other. Wendy clung to me distressed by the events. Another father to fear was how she saw this. Desperately I wished for him to do something to fix things for my girls. Cherine went to him, her face cold, hiding her anguish.
“Goodbye.”
He stood up and gave his hand to her. She shook it, but then he pulled her to him. He buried his face in her hair and sobbed. She held him, but the arch of her back told us she has not forgiven him.
I got up and went to Cherine. I turned her away from him, my face showing anger. “Since when have you become so hard! How dare you judge him.”
“He judged you!”
“And two wrongs make a right!? This is not our way Cherine. Damn it, look into his heart.” She stayed defiant a few seconds and then opened herself to him.
“Oh daddy!” She now hugged him. I waved to Marian and she joined their hug while I held my Wendy. Softly I spoke to her, making sure it was just loud enough for me to be heard by everyone.
“Did you notice that even in his greatest anger he pointed the knife at himself? Not at me, not at Cherine - at himself. He was feeling a pain he could not bear. We know about that kind of pain don’t we love? How many times you girls have had to bring me back from that! Thank god you were always able to forgive me.”
I told my protector I want to jump back home to see all my loves for a few minutes and return. It refused. It said my body is already on the edge where it will start dying again. I had not posted a ‘privacy’ sign and the girls both heard. Suddenly they forgot the others in their panic.
“Relax girls, I won’t jump.”
“You’re damn right you won’t.”
Marian asked what is wrong and Cherine told her. She explained how this jumping from world to world is killing my body.
I hope you enjoy reading this long, long story of fantasy, adventure and love
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)30th May, 2019
- posted on Steemit: 30th May, 2019