Echoes From The Past

Chapter Two

Elda turned away and fixed her gaze on the tall white ceiling to stop the tears from falling. If Baba were correct, then she would never know the joy of motherhood. The woman in her husband’s shadow would never allow her to conceive. Her offspring would be limited to the three children playing by the stream in her dream. If only she could share his dreams.

“You must find out who she is and what she wants.” He nodded as he pulled her closer. He hid the dream from her for the first time in their seven years of marriage.

“Do you think the old man is right”? She asked after a while.

“No. We don’t need to worry about that now.” She rested her head on his chest, wondering who she was and what she wanted.

He wished he could go back to sleep. Funny, he had always done all he could to stay awake for as long as possible: reading, writing, and solving puzzles—anything to keep him alert until his eyes couldn’t take it anymore.

He did anything to keep his eyes open so he wouldn’t see her. But now, all he wants is to see her again, even if it is for the last time. Neither his eyes nor his mind were about to let that happen. His eyes were bright, and his mind was alert.

Elda wasn’t sleeping either. She tried so hard to pretend she was sleeping, but he knew her enough to know when she was asleep.

There must be a million and one things on her mind, lots of questions on her lips, and unending suggestions whirling in her head, but he was not ready to hear any of them right now.

First, he was grateful she wasn’t saying anything for now. Maybe she had also realized that he was not ready to talk, at least not now. He had always loved that about her; her ability to understand his feelings without having to spell them out was unrivaled.

This time, he felt really guilty about shutting her out since the present issue affected them both. But he needed some time to sort things out in his mind first.

He had to unravel the mystery of the woman who had been chasing him for many years, and this was one adventure he had to take alone.

However, shouldn’t he let his wife in so she wouldn’t feel shut out? But what if? There are so many what-ifs on his mind. The woman could be anybody. What if she was some woman from his past, like a deserted lover, and if his wife got to know everything before he had time to figure things out?

And the child, the woman, turned into a girl.

What if?

He squeezed his eyes tightly shut and shook his head to shake out the thoughts. No, it can't be. No, I can't imagine or entertain that line of thought.

If it is true, then what would happen to his marriage?

The woman had to be someone who knew him, someone very close, or who knew someone close to him.

He had always thought it was a dream, something buried and forgotten. But now he was sure she was real. He wanted to get up and go to his study, somewhere he could be alone to think. But he knew Elda well enough that she would follow him. He needed to pull himself together and remember her before---“all hell breaks loose.”

He heard it before completing the thought as if someone had completed it for him. He sat up, turning his head left and right. Then he looked at his wife, whose eyes were still tightly shut.

“El, El,” he whispered into her right ear. “Did you say something?”

“No, I didn’t. Why? “Did you hear something?”

He shook his head, “never mind. I’m sure I just imagined it.”

She got up and flipped on the bedside switch. Her eyes were huge and weary. You are scaring me, Vik. What did you hear? I am sure you heard something; otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked me. He said nothing.

You would not scare me like that if it were nothing. Please, talk to me, my husband.”

He hates it when she does that when she is so understanding and calm. It makes it difficult to hide anything from her or to be angry. He likes how she says my husband instead of all the strange endearment women use nowadays.

He wanted to scream now at her to keep her quiet so he could be alone in his thoughts. But the way they had always been made it challenging to behave or react otherwise.

“It was nothing, my love. You were not sleeping, right? If I had really heard something, I’m sure you would have heard it, too.

“But what exactly did you think you heard? A puzzled frown appeared on her forehead. She stared directly into his face as if she could find the answers she longed for or an explanation for their problem.

“You have to remember me ?” It was on his lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to voice it out. His tongue was dry and heavy. Maybe it was better that way.

“I’m not sure I heard anything. Maybe I was already drifting away.

“Hmm,” She didn’t sound convinced but didn’t want to keep arguing.

Then, he sat upright in a flash. She called him Vyn, not Vik. He was sure he heard it right. Who is Vyn?