Distant Lover

Today I want to share with you a passion I’ve had since I was a kid. I used to make up stories for fun all the time but once I graduated high school, I lost sight of my passion and wrote sparingly over the last 20+ years.

I am excited to share with you a short story exercise I did as a junior in high school. We were given the beginning of a short and then our assignment was to finish how we thought the story should go.

I kept this copy as close to the original as I possibly could with the exception of grammatical corrections and such. I am hoping you enjoy the first of many fiction stories to come. Enjoy.

A sensation of weightlessness surrounded me, and I asked myself several times, “Is this truly happening?”

There, in the drawer, lies a heart-shaped silver locket. I picked it up ever so gently and held it in my cupped hand. The beautiful intricate designs on the surface, apparently made by the loving hands of a woman, and the once beautifully polished silver now tarnished with age. I opened it carefully and slowly, not knowing what to expect. I blew the dust out of the opened locket and was astonished by what I saw. There, staring up at me was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. With intense emotion, I held my hand with the locket to my chest and began to sob. For the first time in my life, I felt true love.

Wiping away my tears I looked down into the dusty drawer and noticed I had overlooked the old envelope. Carefully, I pried open the brittle yellow paper, careful not to damage its contents. My heart almost leaped from my chest as I began to read:

Oh, my dearest love. I have experienced true love these past weeks, and it’s all due to you. I have realized for the first time in my life that I can love a man and not care if I’ve met him or not.

My love, please come to my house this very night. My family is gone so don’t bother to knock or ring the bell. Come straight away to my bedroom where I will be waiting for you. Please, don’t make me wait a moment more to experience the depths of your love and passion!

I love you dearly, and I can’t wait to spend eternity with you!

Your Dearest Love,

Helen Elizabeth Worley

972 Brock Place

Brooklyn, New York

Without thinking, I got up, grabbed my coat, flipped off the lights and left for 972 Brock Place.

The night was cool, damp and empty.  Even though several people walked passed me, it seemed as if I was the only one in the world. I walked as quickly as my legs would carry me without running toward my destination, clutching the locket in my sweaty palms.

I arrived at the house and stood at the gate and looked at what was once an exquisite, grand home that probably once housed rather wealthy people.

“How utterly insane is this?” The thought crossed my mind that I should go home because whatever was going to be found here was a fantasy. Instead, I walked toward the front door with a strange sensation of being pulled unwillingly, and stepped up onto the crumbling grand porch.

“It’s too late! Turn back!” I told myself—and turned the knob to the front door and entered the house anyway.

My navigation through the dark was cautious as the creaks and groans from the failing construction followed me every step of the way. Reaching the top of the weakened stairs leading from the entryway, I instinctively opened the first door to my right. I walked into the room carefully, straining to make out the dark room. There was a sense that my feet were barely touching the floor, almost as if I were walking on air.

My vision began to adjust, and I looked around the large room. The blackened wallpaper that clung to the battered plaster walls appeared to be a vibrant pink flowered pattern. For a moment I could imagine the afternoon sun peering in through the sheer curtains as they fluttered in the summer breeze. How cheerful this room must have been at one time. But now it smelled of mold and urine. Empty bottles had collected on the floor along with piles of other garbage and debris left by thoughtless intruders. Ominous things have happened in this room since abandonment.

A luminous body appeared before me. At first, I was afraid and tried to run, but I couldn’t. The apparition came closer, and my heart and mind began to race

“I shouldn’t have come here. This is crazy! Why did I… “Helen?” My body quaked.

“I’ve waited for so many years my love,” she said.

The luminous figure extended her hand toward me. Every ounce of me shook as I reached out to her. As soon as we touched, I instantly felt a warm, comfortable sensation. There was no more anxiousness, and my mind was at ease. I turned around to see my earthly shell fall lifelessly to the floor. I turned back toward my new bride and took her hand to walk through eternity with her.