Secrets of the Past (13 page)

H
e said he got it with other
jewelry
, from a seller who regularly comes by. He went on to say it was silver.

I then told him
.

“This is my mother’s locket it was stolen las
t night from her in the street.”

He replied.

“No could not be, I have had that here for three days”

I then replied.

“But I know it is my mothers and opened it slightly,
and showed him the photograph.”

He stepped back

“How, do I know you are not just conning me
?

I then suggested.

“Well
let’s get a constable shall we?

He replied.

“
Oh, there is no need for that, just have it and get out my shop now
.
”

David was waiting and said.

“Quickly open it”.

However, as he said the words we heard screaming in the distance and saw people running in the High Street. we walked the couple of yards to see what all the commotion was,
as
we turned the corner,
it was a fire, so we slowly edged our way towards the crowd, as we did, the crowd were shoutin
g, people screaming, the fire,
leaping
out of the windows, in the distance we heard a bell ringing.

Then it dawned on me it was my place, I had not realized, I started shaking, David took my hand.

I then said
.

“David”

   
“It’s my place, what shall we do?

He replied
.

“Nothing we can do, nothing at all
.
”

We were then pushed aside, as a large cart was upon us, it was the fire service, not quite like ours, a man was pumping a handle at the side of this contraption, like
mad, another had a hose, with a little trickle of water leaking out the end of it.

Buckets of water were passing along a line leading to the building.

A large crowd had gath
ered, screaming, all looking up, they were shouting and screaming.

We stood for a moment and suddenly I thought of Anastasia, she could be in there, I turned to David who saw my expression and immediately knew what I was thinking.

Then I heard a woman scream her name.

   
“Anastasia, is in there, quickly someone help her”

I looked upon the window above, my window, where I sit and watch the go
ings on in the street.

It was
she
; she could not open the window.

S
he was trying frantically
.
It wo
uld not open.
 

T
hen as though time stopped, she gazed
down
toward me, eyes of glass, pl
acing her hand against the window
.
Time stood still.

I lifted my arm as if I touched her.

Suddenly David moved from the side of me, heading for the doorway. I screamed after him.

“No”

“Y
ou must not go in there. However, he was deaf to my outcry.

I waited looked up; Anastasia had gone from the window, in her place a flame leaping across the street, onlookers jumping back.

Then John appeared my other brother from this time, in full uniform.

As he see me he grabbed my arm, tears welled in his eyes to, He said with a quiver in his voice

“Mothers gone, we cannot help her now, do you
know what happened?

An onlooker spoke

“The fire started in the shop below, don’t know if anyone was in there
.
”

We both stood his
arm holding me tightly, his body jerking, with grief, as he cried.

Nevertheless, he then pushed me aside and went about his job telling the crowd to get back. As he walked off
I looked back to the doorway, David fell onto the street, so I ran to him.

He cried out
.

“I tried Amy, the heat; it was too hot, I am so sorry
.
”

We returned to the spot where we could again look up at the building but it was now an inferno, flames shooting up to the heavens above, the heat was intense. However, nothing could, be done.

John came to me again asking who David was, as
I had hold of his
arm, so I just said

“
O
h just a
man he
tried to help our mother
.
”

The crowd were coming around so John wandered off again, that was the last I ever saw of him.

Anastasia was lost, my mother had gone, I realized what I was thinking, and started to cry, David lay my head on his shoulder, as the tears welled in my eyes.

David pulled my hand and led me into the gardens opposite.
The little pup followed behind, he had not left my side.

As we sat o
n a bench, I saw him, my father.

I do not know why I called him that
,
he was distressed, one hand leaning on his cane, I immediately rose to my feet and approached him.

David said “Stop, where are you going
.
”

I pushed his hand down and walked past him.

I saw nothing around me, the flowers the trees, had all disappeared, everything a blur, he was sitting on a wall which surrounded a flower garden, I stood directly in front of him, but he did not see me.

Therefore, I spoke and said
.

“Father it is I”

H
e did not reply, just made a gurgle sound, I repeated the words and he took
my hand without looking up
.

He then spoke
.

“Anna, she is lost, my an
gel, my love, it
cannot be
”

I answered
.

“Father please do not cry, mother is in heaven, she herself an angel, she is still with us and will always be”

He then lifted his head.

“Anna live, life to the full. Make her happy, and do not let anything stop you from your goal
.
”

He added.

“I only lived for her and you, but I cannot go on, the pai
n I feel is burning at my soul”.

I told him to walk to a more private place, as people were starting to stare, he lifted himself with
difficulty, and we walked away. We walked
to the chalet in the corner of the
garden;
he sat a
nd took my hand again then said.

“This is ou
r place, your mothers and mine.”

“This is where we met all those years ago; we spent so much time here talking, about life, and death, love.

She was my inspiration you know.
She made me feel so happy in my heart I could do anything.

Before I met her, my life was empty”.

“When I did first see her I knew, she was the one I
had been looking for all my life, it is sad it took all th
ose years to find her you know.”

I never spoke, just listened to the man who thought I was his daughter.

I had realized that no one knew of my mother and probably never would, as far as they were concerned she was a mistress, a bit on the side, but now I know she was so much more.

Father and Anastasia joined, in a way no one will ever know, by the love that only
comes around once in a
lifetime.

He then said.

“Your mother and I are one
, she has my heart and I hers, as
soon I will make it that way.”

He said
.

“I have made mistakes in my life, many people hurt, because of my thoughts, my tongue; I am on the verge of withering, many did not understand, but there will come a time when
my readings will be understood.

I am a man
born
too
early, I am the future.”

‘Anna. H
e said
.

“I will go shortly and you will never see me again, I have left wealth for you, one day you will find it, go to the
school,
and tell them you are your mother’s daughter, and learn me dear, learn everything, travel, spe
ak your mind, grab your dreams.”

I replied
.

“But where are you going”

He said.

“Do not worry, I am here, it will always be. Anastasia is here with me
.
”

“
I have to leave now, take this my child, wipe your eyes, and find the strength to live. As I, will do
.
”

He handed me a piece of paper, I started to open
it,
and he stopped me
,

“No
child
read it, when I am a memory
.

Please do not worry about me, I am not gone, I am part of you, you are as beautiful so like your mother.

Later in your life, when you have fulfilled all your dreams find that special person
.
”

“Goodbye my darling, I am leaving now”,

He
pulled my hand to his palm, tenderly kissed it,
and then
gradually, it became loose as he turned and walked towards the high street.

I sat with tears running down my cheeks, little droplets splashing onto the letter in my hand.

Then someone stood before me, it was David, he sat beside me and pulled me towards his chest, he was warm, but never spoke for a while we just sat quietly.

I then composed myself and said

“David do you know who that was?

He gently whispered.

“
Of course I do, where has he gone?

I replied
.

“
I do not know I shall never see him again
.
”

David then
said.

“Come we must leave now
”

He took my hand and passed me the locket
.

I then opened it.
I saw her
photograph, but before I could think another
thought,
we were back in our time.

He then said.

    
“Come”

Therefore, we left the park and started towards my place, I was very hesitant, but we were back, I was no fool and realized the past was the past.

We were back dressed in our clothing.

We stood opposite my place to look at the building; it was very old, dark beams held the roof.

Tiny pieces of glass in many shapes, all together made up the windows.

We were trying to remember how it was back then, to see if there were any signs of damage that the fire may have made. Eddies shop now had enormous pieces of glass in the fronts. It had changed a lot.

Stupid I know we forgot about the time, over a hundred and sixty years ago.

It was time to go now and forget, which will be hard

We arrived home, went upsta
irs and David started making the
tea, I sat on the sofa watching not speaking, then he returned and a
pproached me, bent down.

“What we just e
xperienced will stay with me for the rest of
my
life
;
it was the most amazing experience I will ever have.”

He then leaned towards my lips and kiss
ed me gently, his lips warm, but
then he pulled away and said.

“Sorry”

However,
I stopped him, and said
.

“No that is fine”.

I w
as madly in love with him. I kno
w that now.

My emotions were running rather high at this time.

“Look David, what are we going to do
now
?

“Nothing this is our secret, it will stay with us
forever
.
”

He replied.

He then got up and left to the kitchen to make a drink, when he returned
, we sat together.

After a while, he spoke
.