Secrets of the Weeping Willow

by Kathleen Anastasia

  Then he chucked inwardly as he saw his plan working, her posture changing as she leaned forward as she took an obvious frustrated intake of breath, just before her flow of words. “You know what? Screw it, there is a but… do you want to know what happened?”

  “Only if you want to tell me.” He said as he set down his cup, to lean forward with genuine interest.

  “After all our searching, and all my worries, she stumbled. That’s right, stumbled into our hotel room at about one in the morning drunk as a skunk.”

  “No.” He said in fake disbelief. “So, what your saying is that she was never in danger but instead was out partying as you frantically searched for her.”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know.” She said as she blew out her air in frustration. “It’s just so uncharacteristic of her, to do something like this.”

  “Well, Mardi Gras can make people do things they normally wouldn’t do.”

  “Maybe, but not Elizabeth.” Aurora said as she blew out her breath once more in exasperation. “I have no idea what is going on with her lately. Before, this trip, she was the one to make the pact that we watch out for each other.”

  “Well, it sounds like your friend Elizabeth decided to disregard her own pact.”

  “No, I don’t believe that. There has to be another reason.”

  “Have you asked her?”

  “Yes, last night. But, she was so drunk, she made no sense.”

  “Oh, really... what did she say?” He asked as his heart jumped with anticipation.

  “I don’t know. She was muttering about some skeletons carrying her down the street, a gypsy and about some evil man from her childhood. I think. As I said, it was all a bunch of non-sense, alcohol enhanced non-sense.”

  “Maybe.” He said, supporting her flow of words. “But, maybe not all of it was. You did tell me last night that something happened to her when she was younger. Maybe, something happened last night that brought that back up.”

  “No, that’s not it.” She said hesitantly.

  “Why?” He asked, seeing that there was something else not being said.

  “Well, Elizabeth doesn’t like to talk about it.” Aurora said with obvious loyalty to her friend.

  “About what?” He asked with encouragement, not wanting her to stop her stem of words. “You can tell me. It’s not like I will tell anyone.”

  “That’s true.” She said as she lifted her cup to her lips, Roger taking note of her inner struggle with whether to tell him her friend’s secret or not. Before setting down her drink once more, she leaned forward. “You know what? You are so right. Besides I’ve never understood why it is such a big secret. Anyways, to make a long story short, Elizabeth has no memory of her earlier life.”

  “What?” Roger asked in genuine surprise. “How can she have no memory?”

  Aurora shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know exactly. But, what her mother told her was that...something, terrible happened when she was younger and ever since she can’t remember her first twelve years.”

  This bit of information took Roger for a loop as he leaned back in his chair in disbelief, not, believing what he was hearing as he tried to process all the information he was just given. “She has amnesia.” He said softly, in disbelief, almost laughing at the irony of it all. His mind quickly, instinctively replaying Elizabeth’s shock and, terror filled expression when he had seen her on the docks and then at the street party. Knowing, that Elizabeth was his Julia, there was no mistaking that in his mind. So, who was this woman claiming to be her mother? Because, his Lily was dead, he knew this without a doubt, since it was he who had seen to it personally.

  No, he definitely was going to have to reevaluate his original plan. This changed everything. But, most of all, it explained to him how she could have disappeared for so long without a whisper or even a trace. There was more to this story than simple amnesia and he was bound and determined to find out who this other player was in this game of cat and mouse. But, for now, he was going to have to do some research, on amnesia, to figure out his next step.

  A clearing of a throat brought him back from his inner thoughts as he smiled at Aurora once more, sipping his coffee thoughtfully. Her expression, puzzled, as she watched him, Roger chuckled as he came to realize that she was going to be a bigger player in his ploy than he had originally thought. She had no idea, how valuable she had just become for him.

  Chapter 10

  Elizabeth groaned when the persistent nagging light threatened to remove her eyeballs from her head. Throwing her arm across her eyes, the movement instead moved the pain from the front of her head to the back. Then to top it off, the vile taste in her mouth made her imagine that rotten cotton balls had taken haven within it. After swallowing several times in an attempt to get her saliva glands to work, once more she came to the realization that she was going to have to move. Finally, after what felt like hours but was only mere minutes, Elizabeth slowly lifted her arm away from her face, squinting against the offensive light beyond the sheer drapes as she slowly sat up, her head a lead ball of discomfort. Disgusted when she looked down only to see that she was wearing the same outfit from the night before. The memory of the previous night was returning to her slowly and methodically, adding torment to her already pain filled head, as she glared irrationally at the window for letting in so much light onto her misery.

  A sigh escaped her dry parched lips as she realized that the past had finally caught her in its cool sensual embrace, teasing her with its cruel reality, promising her the knowledge to make her whole once more. Vaguely, she could see that she was no longer running from the shadows that has plagued and haunted her mind. The cost of this knowledge she didn’t know and didn’t care. Tentatively, ready to embrace what was; and letting destiny take its course. Her mother would be horrified, she knew.

  Hesitantly, Elizabeth called out for Aurora, surprised when she found her own voice sensitive to her ears. After a few moments with no movement or response, Elizabeth lifted herself up from the sofa, her movements slow as she reached for the phone to call room service; ordering aspirin for the headache, coffee for the pick-me-up, and a bagel for her upset stomach, which she believed, only food could settle. After Elizabeth replaced the phone in its cradle, she turned back to the French doors leading into the bedroom. Confused that Aurora wasn’t around, she could have sworn that Aurora had been in the hotel room when she had returned. As a matter of fact, she was positive she had been. Even drunk, she could remember Aurora’s angry words. Elizabeth sighed at the mess she was making of their trip so far.

  When Elizabeth was finally able to make it to the little kitchenette area, she was awarded sweetly when she saw a couple bottles of chilled waters in the mini fridge. Pleasure filled her as the cool liquid filled her mouth and throat, before she lifted the bottle to her forehead in an attempt to calm the pounding still there and vowing to never drink another sip of bourbon ever again in her life. Then just as the pain started to minimize slightly, a sharp rap on the door with a voice yelling room service brought it full force again through her head. Cursing under her breath at the noise, Elizabeth cleared her throat just before she gingerly yelled, as not to split her head open with her own voice, that she would appreciate everything to be left just outside the door.

  As she pulled the metal cart over to the sofa, she paused in surprise when she saw a note on the table in front of the sofa:

  Elizabeth,

  Had to run out, didn’t want to disturb you. I won’t be long. Sorry for being so bitchy last night. I thought about it and know you have a good reason. Talk to you later.

  Love, Aurora

  Relieved, that Aurora had not deserted her completely and even further relieved that she had a slight reprieve from questions, she was not yet ready to answer, Elizabeth felt like she needed this precious extra time to sort out in her mind what she was going to say without sounding crazy and pa
ranoid.

  Elizabeth popped the aspirin into her mouth just before she ate the bagel in an attempt to settle her stomach and to help absorb some of the alcoholic toxin from her blood, the coffee only mildly helping. With the pain subsiding somewhat from earlier, Elizabeth stepped into the multi-head shower, thankful for the small luxury as the hot therapeutic water helped ease the ache that had settled into her bones; mentally her thanks to Aurora’s parents for this gift for her and Aurora’s twenty-first birthdays. Elizabeth smiled as she remembered Aurora’s mother’s expression of joy as she had presented them with the four-star boutique hotel brochure, telling them about her own trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and the fun she had. Elizabeth had felt guilt at first for the expensive gift and the knowledge that the trip had an alternative motive for her, but Aurora had quickly eased her discomfort. Elizabeth often forgot the wealth Aurora was from.

  Towel drying her now shortened hair, Elizabeth walked over to the French doors that lead to the terrace overlooking the Mississippi River. Settling herself onto the black cast iron chair warmed, from the early morning sun, Elizabeth lifted her feet up to rest them on the railing in front of her. As she sipped her coffee, her thoughts went to the night before while a warm breeze skimmed her wet hair as she absently ran her fingers through it to help it catch the breeze.

  The voice from the night before foremost in her thoughts as she attempted to place the frightening familiar voice with a face, a memory, anything that would tell her who he was. She rubbed her arms from the recall of his breath on her neck, made more real by the sensation the voice created in her mind. The remembrance was so vivid it felt as though he was once more standing behind her, causing a shiver to crawl down Elizabeth’s spine as she quickly looked behind her. Now paranoid, she stood anxiously as she turned so her back was against the railing as she watched the sheer curtains flow gently into the room and finding herself afraid of what was beyond them. For the first time, she wished Aurora was here to help her process what she was feeling.

  Laughing, as her wish is granted, Aurora calling her name just beyond the doors. Happy with the distraction from her wild imagination, “Aurora, I’m out on the terrace.”

  “How are you feeling?” Aurora asked, as she stepped through the doors leading onto the balcony.

  “Better now.” Elizabeth said as she pushed away from the black railing. “Just embarrassed. I can’t tell you enough how truly sorry I am for last night.”

  Aurora smiled as she sat down across from Elizabeth, crossing her legs as she raised sunglasses to her eyes. “You were pretty messed up last night. You want to tell me what’s going on?”

  Elizabeth shrugged as she sat down next to Aurora, a frustrated expelling of her breath escaped as she leaned back onto the cushion on the chair. “I’m trying to figure that out myself.” She said softly, absently, as she crossed her legs, her eyes looking past Aurora to the Mississippi River, thinking how vast it was and how insignificant she felt in comparison to it. “You know what?” Elizabeth asked casually without expecting an answer, then continuing, before Aurora had a chance, “I haven’t really thought much of my disorder of amnesia.” Elizabeth said with a shake of her head to stop her wandering thoughts, laughing nervously as she looked back over at Aurora, “You what to know something else? I hate that word, amnesia, who came up with that word anyways? If you think about it, who comes up with most words?”

  “What’s bringing it up now?” Aurora asked.

  “This trip.” Elizabeth replied without hesitation.

  Aurora laughed as she pushed her hair behind her ear, “Wow, that was pretty defiant. What do you mean by that?”

  “Have you ever had a sense of deja vu?” Elizabeth asked with curiosity.

  Aurora nodded in affirmation before she replied, “Sure…you mean where you feel like you have seen something before?”

  Elizabeth’s nodded as she uncrossed her legs just before she leaned forward, her hands clasped together anxiously, “Exactly. This is the feeling I had when I walked off the plane yesterday, I felt a connection to this place. Almost like I have been here, like I was meant to be here at this time, in this place. I know this sounds strange, and maybe I’m making more of what has happened to me in this short time; but I had this feeling.”

  Aurora raised her eyebrows in question, “Deja vu?”

  “Yes!” Elizabeth said as she stood once more to look out at the boats on the River in an attempt to figure out how she would proceed, to explain best what she felt. Turning around, Elizabeth looked at Aurora dressed in a simple blue dress that reached just above her knees. Her long bare legs crossed as she swung a raised foot, her arms rested on the arms of the chair as she rested linked fingers just below her breast. Her sunglasses shielding her eyes so Elizabeth couldn’t see what she might be thinking.

  All of sudden finding herself becoming self conscious of her thoughts, “Do you think I’m going crazy?” Elizabeth asked hesitantly, wanting Aurora to understand and believe her so badly.

  “Elizabeth, don’t assume what I’m thinking. I’m trying to be open. But you have to admit it does sound a bit wild.”

  “I know, I know. Just hear me out before you make judgments and give your opinion on what you think.”

  “Fine. I don’t have a problem with that.” Aurora said as she grabbed a cushion from a nearby chair placing it behind her back before she leaned back again.

  “Well.... I’m not sure where to begin. I guess I’ll start with yesterday morning when you were out. I had one of my dreams, the one with the willow tree and woman. But, it was different this time. I mean it was still terrifying but this time.... It was more real. I don’t know how else to explain it. I could almost feel the texture of the dream. I could feel the thorns. I had woken up to a feeling that I had been running for my life.” Walking back to the chair, Elizabeth sat back down as she looked down at her hands. “But it wasn’t just the dream. After I got up, I had to get away. So I went down to the River where you found me.” She said, as she looked over at Aurora. “Just before you came up behind me I noticed someone watching me.”

  “What do you mean watching you?”

  “It’s going to sound crazy, what I’m going to say. But remember, you promised to hear me out. When I was watching the boats, I felt...a shiver run down my spine. Like something evil was near me.” Raising her hand to stop Aurora, who opened her mouth to say something. “I saw this man. Standing on the deck of one of the yachts off shore. When I saw him, I felt a connection. Like I knew him. Was terrified of him. That’s the only way I can think of explaining it.”

  “Why didn’t you mention anything then?”

  “Because I know how crazy it sounds. Besides, you were so happy, I wanted to feel some of that. I wanted to forget about the dream I had just had. I wanted to forget about my crazy mother. I wanted to feel a little bit of what you were feeling. I guess... I just wanted to absorb some of your energy so I could simple forget the last few hours.”

  “So what’s bringing it up now, then?”

  “Well that is what I’m getting too. At the party, when I went over to see the band, I felt that same something from earlier. But this time, it became more of a feeling...anyways, someone came up behind me and whispered in my ear, that he liked my hair but he also liked how it was earlier.”

  “WHAT?!” Aurora yells.

  Elizabeth lifted her hand, “but it wasn’t just what he said. It was how I felt.” Elizabeth said with earnest, “Aurora, I knew the voice. I knew him, I don’t know how. Or even who he is. But I knew him. It evoked emotions that I have only felt in dreams. I knew on some level that he was...my past. Do you understand the meaning of this?” Elizabeth said as she leaned forward. “A few years ago I looked into my amnesia disorder and the material I found on it stated that my memory could return, that a certain smell, or sight, or even a sound could bring it back. Something from that time, that took my memor
y, could also return it. I believe he was there when I lost my memory.”

  “Elizabeth, I’m not liking this. I’m not liking this at all.”

  “Aurora, don’t you see. I could maybe find out what happened before I lost my memory at twelve.”

  “But Elizabeth, maybe there is a reason you never got your memory back. Have you thought of that?”

  “Now, your starting to sound like my mother. But, yes, I have thought of that. But, don’t you understand, that just maybe, I need to know. It’s this part of me, that I can’t see, but it’s always there, nagging at me from the corners of my mind. It’s a part of who I am. I need to know that part. Don’t you understand?” Elizabeth asked, desperate for Aurora’s understanding.

  “What has your mother said, when you asked her about that time?”

  “She has told me to forget it. That it is better left in the past.”

  “Maybe she is right?”

  Elizabeth laughed, “Are you agreeing with my head case of a mother?”

  Aurora smiled as she lifted her sunglasses so they pulled her hair back, as they rest on her head, and leaned forward to look Elizabeth in the eyes. “I guess I do agree with your mother on this one. Elizabeth, I’m worried for you. There are some things that are better left alone. Didn’t you tell me that you’re lucky to be alive?”

  “Alive.” Elizabeth sighed. “That is what my mother tells me.”

  Aurora raised her eyebrows, “You don’t agree?”

  Elizabeth stood, her steps hesitant, as she paced the confines of the terrace. “I don’t know what I believe. My mother is so vague about that time. And my bits of memory just don’t mesh with her reminiscence about it. The pieces just don’t fit.”

  “What pieces?”

  “I don’t know how to explain it. It is more of a feeling that there is so much more I’m not being told.” Sitting down, Elizabeth lifted her knees, hugging them to her chest as she leaned her forehead on their tips, wondering how she could explain the black void that haunted her. Can anyone truly understand, unless they themselves have lived through it? She had tried as a child to explain to her mother the madness it created inside her, but her mother was relentless in her urging to Elizabeth to forget, to move on.