Chapter 5

I sat alone on a bench in the middle of the park, staring down at its peeling green paint and reading the names which had been scratched into it over the years. A gentle breeze tugged at my hair and the grey sky cast a sinister shadow onto the trees which lines the path, filling them with creatures only the imagination could see. There were none of the park’s usual patrons in view; no joggers stampeding their way along the paths or dog lovers taking man’s best friend for a walk and the sound of children’s laughter was notably missing. Strangely, this didn’t seem to bother me at all. Instead, I revelled in the solitude.

A fine rain began to fall from the heavens, not enough to soak my clothing but enough to just dust my skin with its gentle caress. Ever since I was a child I had loved the rain. I used to sit by the window and watch it fall once I had given up asking my mother if I could play outside in it. Now, without my mother’s disapproving gaze, I raised my head to the skies, welcoming its drizzle as I spread out my arms for its embrace.

“You’re going to get sick like that.”

A velvety masculine voice broke my solitude. I opened my eyes and turned to its owner, a smile still glued to my face. His hair was shorter than what it had been in the hospital but it was still a coal-black mess, dampened from the rain. His stubble was less defined as his lips curved in a mischievous smile which matched the look in his tempestuous grey eyes.

“I won’t.” I retorted, sounding like a child.

He laughed as he sat down next to me, still watching my face as if entranced. I tore my gaze from his to turn my face back to the heavens, rivulets starting to run down my cheeks.

“I love how you are able to get lost in the simple joys of life, my Callista. Not many people in this era find themselves enjoying the small pleasures which living provides.”

I didn’t find it absurd that he knew my name, it was my dream after all, but the fact that he called me “my Callista” puzzled me. I turned to face him once more.

“I saw you in the hospital today.” I whispered.

He smiled sadly in response and took my hand in his.

"I'm sorry you had to meet me that way, that wasn't my intention." 

I smiled at him, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "It's okay, I don't mind. How else would we have met?" 

He turned his body toward me, raising his hands to cup my cheeks as his eyes held mine captive. 

"My Callista, I would have moved heaven and earth to meet you. You are more important to me than you could even imagine."

“Callista, wake up! You’re brother’s on skype!”

My mother’s voice broke into my dream like an unwanted intruder, tearing me slightly from him.

“I’m sorry, I have to go.” I squeezed his hand slightly.

He lifted my hand to brush his lips softly over my skin in a caress.

“Until next time, my dearest. Until next time.”

I dragged myself from my bed and pulled on my bunny slippers, his words still echoing in my mind as I made my way downstairs. My father sat in the study talking to my brother about the new developments which were being made in his department at the university. I stuck my head into the room and called a rough good morning to the two men in my life before I traipsed off to the kitchen to find my morning coffee.

My brother wouldn’t be offended by my rudeness; he was used to living with me and knew that I couldn’t function without a cup of coffee in the morning.

My mother handed me a plate filled with waffles as I entered her domain, telling me to hurry up because my brother had been waiting for me to get up for half an hour. Breakfast and coffee in hand, I returned to the study. I kissed my father good morning and grabbed the seat next to him, offering him a bite of my waffles.

“Oi! Where’s mine?” my brother’s voice filtered through the computer’s speakers.

I laughed at him, leaning in close to the camera and stuffing a large piece of waffle in my mouth. I wished his camera was on so that I could see his face but instead I had to settle for his groan of disgust.

“Alright children, it’s time that your mother and I head off to the restaurant.” my father said as if we were five years old. “Behave while we’re gone and no more partying all night, Niklos. I know you students and I know what happens to your grades when you’re left to your own devices. If you fail one module your mother will be on the next flight to help you study for the supplementary exam... and you know what she’s like.”

I could only imagine the grimace on my brother’s face as he was faced with the threat. Grabbing his car keys from the desk and calling my mother to say her goodbyes, my father headed out the front door. We could hear my mother from the kitchen muttering about being rushed and our farewells echoed after her as she yanked her handbag from the coat rack and marched out after my father. I waited until the car started up and began to back out of our driveway before I turned back to the computer.

“Ok, they’re gone now. You can turn the camera on.” I informed Niklos, leaning back in my chair as the monitor flickered to life.