Secrets of the Past

by Wendy Backshall

  David suggested as I looked like a well to do young woman that I would talk to the shopkeeper, and explain about the locket and tell him it was my mothers. Well he was not far wrong there; the dress I was wearing was so heavy, but very posh, but it was like carrying a weight around. Therefore, our plan went into action.

  Children were playing across the way, giggling. A gent sat on a bench reading a newspaper.

  A little puppy came running across, as I sat on the grass, he was the cutest pup I had ever seen, David played with him, the pup lying on his back with his tiny legs kicking about, then I said.

  “Come we must go now.”

  We had stayed for an hour or so in case we ran into Anastasia again, so off we went, David picked up pup and placed him inside his coat. He had checked around first, but the pup seemed to be alone.

  On the way, we met many sitting on the ground in doorways, begging, but passed them, as we did not want to get anyone else involved in our situation.

  We then approached the shop, it was just off the main street, and I peeped in the window and recognized the locket, it was amongst other pendants, but it was mine.

  The shopkeeper was alone, so I asked to look at it he collected it from the windowsill, and handed to me. I then asked him.

  “Where did you get this from?

  He 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 last 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 shouting, 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 gathered, 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 goings on in the street.

  It was she; she could not open the window.

  She was trying frantically. It would not open.

  Then as though time stopped, she gazed down toward me, eyes of glass, placing 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”

  “You 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

  “Oh 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 on 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”

  He 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 angel, 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 pain 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 and took my hand again then said.

  “This is our 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 those 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.

  “You
r 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. He 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, speak 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 upstairs and David started making the tea, I sat on the sofa watching not speaking, then he returned and approached me, bent down.

  “What we just experienced 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 kissed me gently, his lips warm, but then he pulled away and said.

  “Sorry”

  However, I stopped him, and said.

  “No that is fine”.

  I was madly in love with him. I know 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.

  “I need to tell you something Amy, I think I am in love with you, the last couple of days have been crazy, but for some time my thoughts have been about you. I did not think you were that keen, so I did not want to embarrass myself, by asking you out on a date.”

  I responded, taking his hand.

  “David I fell in love with you the day I met you, did

  You not know that.”

  With that, he smiled.

  He then kissed me again, the most passionate kiss I had ever experienced, my whole body warm from his touch.

  It must be like the love Anastasia had together with my father.

  We sat a while thinking of where we could put the locket so it would never be found.

  There was the river, but that did not feel appropriate, then we thought perhaps Anastasia’s grave, but finding it would be hard, then we thought of father himself, what he would have done?

  He would have found a place of mystery, a place where no one would ever look or disturb.

  It would come to me with a lot of thought, but my mind so mixed up, at this time.

  David handed me the locket

  “Anna I have to get home, it is so late and you need some sleep, as do I, I will come back in the morning.”

  I stopped him and replied,

  “No we must stay here tonight, please stay with me.”

  He bent and kissed my head saying.

  “Ok I will stay”

  I remembered the note father gave me, so very slowly I opened it, it read.

  Reflection in the mirror it is not I

  Is it you I see but why

  Please let me join you in your new life

  Without you, my love I am in turmoil and strife

  My strengths fading, fading away

  I cannot suffer one more day

  You are the reflection hold out the key

  Life for me then as it should be

  I go to a life much better, than the life I knew

  I go with honor, to be with you

  I now, know, there is no key

  Just what we see

  Remember me.

  C.D. x

  I sat tears churning yet again. I knew this man had gone to be with his love. These were his last words.

  The letter was for his Anastasia.

  I wondered where this man had gone. Thinking secretly he was my father, where could be?

  Until then I had not realized the puppy he was here.

  Why is he here? It must have come back with us; I was holding him, when we returned...

  David also had the same thought as I and said.

  “Amy, his here with us, this cannot be true”

  How he got here, we will never know, when people ask where we got him, we say he found us.

  David and I married later that year, and we have our little daughter now whom we named Anna, David has added to his collection many pieces of art of that era, and we have a library books.

  He has a whole collection of my father’s works.

  We live at David’s place overlooking the river.

  I am home.

  I still own my little flat in the high street, will never let it go, it is a family heirloom, so much happened there, and just could not part with it.

  I let Eddie store antiques there.

  David still jokes about Fredric; we laugh about it a lot now. When we have a joke, I just tell him I have another man waiting for me.

  He swears to this day that he knows who the man in the garden back then was.

  Who knows?

  We did find a special place to put the locket, the secret that will stay with us and us alone, forever.

  We know the man found his Anastasia and is with her today, in another place in another time.

  As we, are!

  115

  This story may end here.

  Alternatively, does it begin?

  The locket holds the key, only we know where it is, one day you never know, we may open it once more.

  Learn the Secrets of the past.

  Authorr />
  W J Backshall

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