Promise Me Eternity

by Ian Fox

  Shocked, he put the syringe with the vaccine into the fridge. He decided it best to leave the laboratory immediately. Even though Helen was obviously in a bad mood, he went up to see her. The basement disgusted him.

  “I’ll never be able to clean that pan. You’re going to have to buy a new one tomorrow. Damn it, Simon, why don’t you set the timer if you’re so forgetful. It could have caught fire …”

  Simon didn’t care. After a long time he was actually glad to see Helen, even if it meant listening to her shrill voice echoing between the walls. He nodded in a conciliatory manner.

  “It would be better if you ordered a pizza or something. At least that way you wouldn’t …”

  He wasn’t listening, just staring at her. She was still a beauty. He noticed she’d had her hair done.

  After a while he said, “Helen, you have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

  She looked at him with surprise. Not knowing what to reply, she started putting the clean dishes into the cabinets.

  “I don’t know how to tell you this. I’ve just realized that I’ve been neglecting you badly the past five years. I don’t know if you’ll ever be able to forgive me.”

  For a moment she stopped what she was doing. “And what brought you to this discovery?”

  He looked down sadly. He thought of Dorothy, who was probably going to die sometime soon. “I’m not as close with my research as I thought I was. Actually, I’m nowhere near my goal.”

  She stood there with her eyes shut, listening to him. Even though she had spent the last three weeks thinking about leaving him, something in her heart prevented her from doing so.

  “I’ve wasted so many hours of our life. I’ve also wasted a lot of money. All in vain. I realized only today how wrong I was.” He looked at her standing there, utterly still, with her back to him. He waited for her to say something, but since she didn’t answer, he continued: “Maybe it’s already too late, maybe you’ve had to endure too much of my nonsense. … I just want you to know that I still love you very much and if you truly want to divorce me, I’m the one to blame. I’m so sorry for everything.”

  She was trying with all her might to stay indifferent. She squeezed her hands into fists and shut her eyes tight, stopping herself from crying. She was angry with him and she felt like turning and hitting him with both hands.

  Then with a trembling voice she said, “Everything you say is true, Simon. That laboratory totally obsessed you.” She wiped a tear with her finger.

  “I’m sorry, my darling.”

  “But it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ve finally realized your mistake.” She took a few deep breaths before continuing. “We have grown apart from each other. We haven’t been a real husband and wife for quite some time.” Turning, she faced him. She remembered the unpleasant encounter with Robert Miner. “But it’s not all your fault. I’m also to blame.”

  Surprised, he asked himself what she was trying to tell him.

  “I’ve become totally obsessed with money and material things. I’ve thought a lot about your accusations. You were right, I kept on thinking about what other people have got and we haven’t. As if that was the only thing that mattered. What about us, Simon? Don’t we matter?”

  Standing up he cautiously took hold of her hand. “Oh, Helen.”

  “Instead of us going for trips and walks, I was obsessed with the car and house. Isn’t that stupid? Like I was married to things, not a person. I’ve been foolish as well, Simon, but I’ll try to change.”

  He kissed her softly. First on the forehead, then her cheeks, ending with her lips. He pulled her to him and she held on to him tightly. They stayed like that for minutes, drowning in the warmth of their embrace. They had finally smashed through the wall they had unintentionally built between them. They had missed one another, but lately hadn’t been capable of telling each other. They had become strangers, as if it was better and easier living that way.

  After a while they let each other go. Helen was shaking and crying. Simon was wiping the tears from her face with soft kisses. Then, arm in arm, they made their way upstairs. It was so long since they had last made love.

  Chapter 37

  _______________________

  He closed his eyes and let himself drift far away. He was exhausted. Her lips were kissing his neck and the touch of her breasts gave him a warm feeling. It was indescribably beautiful; he hadn’t experienced anything so good for a long time. Her beauty was an irresistible magnet.

  Suddenly, Carlo Vucci appeared before him. The anger in his dark eyes told Simon that this wasn’t going to end well. Simon immediately let go of Christine and raised his hands, as if to reassure him that he hadn’t touched her.

  Carlo gave a hollow laugh and took hold of Christine’s hair, jerking her up and ordering her to get dressed.

  Simon was shivering, wanting to get dressed himself. Vucci grabbed his shoulder, telling him to stay put. He had to stand in front of him, naked and humiliated.

  “What do you want? Please, leave me alone!”

  Carlo Vucci waited for his wife to put on her clothes. While she did so, she was sobbing and begging him not to harm Simon. Carlo kept laughing.

  “Now you’ll see what’ll happen to your lover.”

  “Listen, your wife came to me because of her headaches. I had to do some tests.” He leaned forward to pick up his underwear and a fist hit him in the ribs.

  “Stand still and not a word!”

  Simon could barely stand straight because of the pain. “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

  When Christine was finally dressed, a butcher’s knife suddenly appeared in Carlo Vucci’s right hand. Both Simon and Christine were speechless. Carlo was laughing out loud.

  “Wh-what a-are y-you … going to do?” Simon asked.

  “Honey, see what’s going to happen. Let it be a lesson for the next time you think of someone else.”

  His hand moved toward Simon. It was too quick for Simon to jump out of the way. He felt a searing pain in his groin and with horror watched his genitals fall to the floor. He wanted to scream but couldn’t draw breath, as if the air was as dense as water. He waved his hand, pointing to what was once his but now lay on the floor in a mass of blood.

  Christine was screaming with all her might, then she was down, passed out. There was nothing in the room but Simon’s stifled sobbing and Carlo Vucci’s awful roar of laughter. But there was something else. Somewhere in the distance, Simon could hear a familiar tune.

  He opened his eyes and looked around the room. He realized he was at home and there was no sign of Carlo Vucci. Putting his hands to his groin he sighed with relief. But something made him wonder if it really was just a dream. That sound in the air, that melody … he could still hear it.

  From her side of the bed, Helen said, “Simon, answer your damn phone, please. It’s been ringing for nearly a minute!”

  “Sorry, darling.” Confused, he picked up his phone and checked the time: half past ten. Who could be calling at this hour? Not wanting to bother Helen, he left the bedroom.

  “Hello, who is this?” he asked angrily.

  “It’s me. Sorry for calling so late …”

  At first he didn’t know who it could be, but then he recognized it was Christine. Judging by her voice, something was wrong. Covering the earpiece, he went downstairs to the kitchen.

  In a whisper he asked, “Christine? What’s happened?”

  “I’m having one of my attacks. I don’t know how to explain it, but I have the feeling I’m going to go mad.”

  “What attacks? What are you talking about?”

  “The pain in my head, you know, I was telling you. It hurts so much. It feels like my head is going to explode.”

  Angry that she was calling him so late because of a headache, he then remembered he had never given her his cell phone number. He shook his head. “Did you take any pills?”

  She answered hysterically, “Of course I did. I took t
hree painkillers.”

  “You’ve taken three painkillers and your head is still hurting?”

  She started crying. “That’s what I was trying to tell you last time. When it starts, it’s so bad I don’t even know where I am. I wanted to ask you if you could come and get me and take me home.”

  “Me, come and get you? What about your husband?”

  “Oh Simon, of course I thought of Carlo first. But he keeps changing his phone number and I’ve lost the latest one. I can’t call him. Please, Simon, help me!”

  Confused, he moved around the kitchen, thinking. For a moment he saw the flash of the shining blade that Carlo had used against him. “OK, Christine, I’ll come and pick you up. Tell me the address.”

  Twenty minutes later he was racing toward the place she had described. He had told Helen that he had to go to the hospital immediately because a patient’s condition had suddenly gotten worse. He felt bad about having to lie to her, especially as they’d had such a wonderful evening together.

  As he neared the street she had mentioned, his heart started beating faster. What if Carlo suspects something? He would have to take her home. How can I explain her calling me? The more he thought about it, the more he realized how foolish he was.

  He noticed her standing in front of the hotel entrance. She was wearing a dark-green suit with an elegant round hat. He parked in the hotel lot.

  “I came as quickly as I could.”

  Her face was as white as a sheet. Her voice shook when she spoke and she pronounced her words with difficulty. “Thank you, Simon. I’m so grateful that you came.”

  “Listen, Christine! I was thinking on the way here. It would be better if you called an ambulance or a taxi. Your husband is sure to get suspicious.”

  She looked at him with difficulty. “I don’t understand. What could he become suspicious about?”

  “You know. About what happened between us. That should never have happened. I have a wife and you—”

  “Ah, that.” She had to pause to gain strength. “Simon, only we know about that, no one else. Of course it won’t happen again—oh, my head.”

  He took hold of her forearm, afraid she might fall. He glanced around, obsessed with the anxiety that someone might see them.

  Simon had an idea. “Listen, Christine, let’s go into the hotel so you can rest a bit. Then, when you’re better, you can call a taxi to take you home. What do you say?”

  She painfully turned her head toward the hotel. “I don’t know. I never thought of that.” She turned to him, then again to the hotel. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe that is the best option.”

  He was much relieved. The longer he stood in the street with her, the greater chance of someone seeing them. “I know you feel bad. Headaches can be very unpleasant. Luckily, they go away sooner or later.”

  She walked beside him with her head bowed, while he still held her forearm. “Thank you, Simon, I’m really grateful to you. I don’t know what I’d do alone.”

  A friendly, young, red-haired receptionist greeted them as they entered and gave them a room key. Simon told her he was a doctor and that he was only there because Mrs. Vucci was having trouble with her head. He did that just in case. You never know.

  When the elevator came to a stop on the third floor and shook slightly, Christine nearly fell to the floor. He caught her at the last moment.

  “Sorry, Simon. When my head is throbbing so much, I become as weak as a kitten. It will get better. It has always gone away before.”

  On their way to the room he said, “You say you’ve taken three pain pills, but your head is still hurting?”

  “Of course, I took so many I feel quite bloated.”

  “I hope you drank enough water. Painkillers can be harmful.”

  The hotel room was small, with two beds next to each other. The furniture was shabby, a combination of blue and gray. At the entrance to the room was a tiny bathroom.

  “Yes, I drank enough water.” She stopped for a moment, letting go of his hand. Her eyes were assessing the premises. “Oh, Simon, this place is a disaster. I won’t be able to lie down here. It smells.” She leaned on him again.

  She was so close it made him nervous. “Listen, Christine,” he said, “there’s nothing wrong with the hotel. It may not be five-star, but it seems fine to me. And I can’t smell anything.” He was not going back into the street with her on his arm. After all, it’s not her that her husband will hurt, but me.

  She was still holding on to him and looking around. Her face looked like that of a little girl whose mother was forcing her to eat her greens. “Oh, my head. Maybe it would be best if I lie down. Simon, help me, please.”

  Simon had the feeling she was going to collapse. “Hold on to me. Of course I’ll help you.”

  The last steps were the hardest. Near the bed she was almost dragging her feet.

  “Take that hat off. It’s getting in the way.”

  She did.

  He had to hold her in his arms to help her lie down on the bed. He held her close and she sighed loudly. “Oh, Simon. I’m so grateful.”

  Her sigh made him realize how close she was. His body pressed against her breasts and she was so close that he could easily kiss her. She looked at him while he laid her on the bed. Her lips were only a few inches away.

  He knew how dangerous this situation was. If he didn’t let her go this minute, it would be too late. Passion mixed with fear gripped his heart.

  When he’d finally laid her down, he closed his eyes and wanted to push her away. He was determined not to get caught up in her web this time.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, preventing him. “Simon, stay with me for a bit. My head is hurting so much. We won’t do anything. Last time was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

  Her words calmed him. He told himself again not to get involved with her in any way. It was too dangerous.

  “Stay with me a little while longer,” she pleaded. “The pills will start working soon. I can’t be alone. Please, Simon, I need you.”

  He was right above her, leaning on his arm and still looking into her eyes. He didn’t know what to do.

  “Lie down next to me,” she said. “Hold me, please. Let’s be friends. Just for a few minutes, until the worst of the pain goes away.” She let out a hollow groan.

  Simon was left with no choice. He leaned on his elbow and lay down beside her, as she’d told him to. With so little space, he had to squeeze up to her in order to stay on the bed. He gently put his left arm around her.

  They lay peacefully like that for a few minutes. When she now and then let out a moan, Simon calmly soothed her and stroked her hair and face.

  “It’ll be OK. Hang on a little longer.” He kept swallowing saliva and felt like he’d eaten chalk. He was trying with all his might to remain indifferent to her, but he simply could not. The pressure in his body was rising due to her closeness and he could feel his loins stirring, and a tingle ran up and down his spine. His breathing was shallow and jerky. He could only hope she wouldn’t notice.

  It kept getting worse and the effects started to show. First his hands started shaking; a little later his legs as well. In the end, his whole body was shaking and his teeth were chattering as if he were cold. He felt he might explode.

  She looked at him in surprise. “What’s happening to you, Simon? Why are you shaking like that?”

  Leaning on her elbow she lifted herself, while he lay on his back, sweaty and shaky.

  “Poor Simon.” She gently stroked his forehead. “Calm down. Calm down, please. Your face is all red.” She started unbuttoning his shirt. At first she undid only the first two, but since they opened up easily she undid the third and the fourth. “You need air. Take deep breaths and everything will be OK.”

  Instead of getting better, it made things worse. He started shaking even more and gasping for breath.

  “Poor Simon.” Her hand went under his shirt. The remaining buttons undid themselves. She gently
massaged his chest. “This will help. Calm down.”

  As things still weren’t getting better, she moved to his stomach and started massaging it with circular movements. “You’re tense. My God, what’s happening to you?”

  Simon kept his mouth closed. However hard he tried to resist, to get up, he couldn’t do it. He lay helplessly on his back, staring into her eyes and sighing loudly as he felt her warm hand caressing his skin. Then he remembered her saying that they would be just good friends and he said, “Didn’t we say that—”

  “You’re trembling so much. Poor Simon. Don’t be afraid.”

  Then something happened that shouldn’t have. He saw her lips come closer to his and didn’t have the strength to turn away. All the time he was thinking how dangerous it was, but still he did nothing. He thought that if he stayed perfectly still and it was she who took the lead, it would all be her fault.

  When their lips touched, they both sighed deeply, indicating how much they wanted each other and how long they’d been waiting for this. Any negative thought was gone, time stopped, nothing existed but them. They were intertwined, they became one and both moaned loudly with pleasure.

  In less than a minute they were naked. Their tongues sought each other feverishly, their bodies held on to each other as if they were afraid of never seeing each other again.

  Simon kissed her neck and breasts; he wanted to kiss every inch of her body. She seemed so soft and vulnerable. Every time he touched her, she trembled and thanked him for his kisses. He had never enjoyed being with a woman so much, never felt such wild passion. He was so aroused he could barely breathe and her touches and warmth filled him with happiness.

  Christine played as full a part as he. Ever since she had seen him for the first time, she had been thinking about him constantly. Wherever she was, she could see his face, thinking how nice it would be to have a husband like that. He impressed her with everything he said and the moment he rejected her husband’s money, she was in love. However hard she had tried, she couldn’t forget Simon. She had to see him again. Even fully aware of the danger of Carlo finding out about it, she couldn’t help herself. So she accepted the risk and went to see him at the hospital, making up a story about a headache. And when she finally succeeded in seducing him and they did all those things they shouldn’t have, she felt so good that she started trembling and for a few moments didn’t know where she was. She only came to later and realized she had experienced an orgasm with Simon, the first one in her life.