The knock on the door is insistent, urgent even. I turn off the TV and my heart starts to beat faster. Then I hear Alex’s voice and the banging turns into frantic hammering. I’m not afraid, but I’m fearful of what he’s going to say. The door swings open and he stands there, running his hand through his hair.
“Thank you. Thank you for opening the door and I’m sorry for nearly bashing it down. Can I come in?”
I stand back. Seeing him is a shock and my heart performs a somersault. He looks tired and his hair needs cutting, which is unusual for Alex. Normally his appearance is perfect.
“Are you in trouble?” I ask and my voice is hesitant. “Come in. Do you need a drink? Coffee or something stronger?”
“Do you have any whiskey?”
“I’ll see what I can find.” I walk into the kitchen and find a bottle of Southern Comfort. I set up two glasses with ice and pour a slug into each. I turn, surprised to find Alex is standing very close behind me. Close enough for my hair to touch his face with the movement.
“Cheers,” I hold a glass up to him and then we toast in silence.
I’m still in shock that it’s him and he’s really here. A part of me doubted I would ever see him again. I’m not expecting a string of apologetic words to tumble out of his mouth, but I’m worried he’s agitated because he’s angry with me for running away. Has he come to vent that anger? I suppose he would be justified, but what would be the point?
We walk into the living room and I sit down, expecting him to do the same, but he remains standing. He begins pacing back and forward in front of me, then knocks back his drink in three large gulps. The ice hasn’t even had a chance to melt. I offer him mine and he takes it, gladly.
“Alex, you need to sit down and try to calm yourself. I’m going back into the kitchen to make some strong coffee. I’ll be gone just a couple of minutes. Okay?”
He nods and as I stand up, he sits down.
It takes ten minutes of awkward silence before he settles. The coffee seems to work and the caffeine kicks in, relaxing him.
“I’m sorry Ceri. I don’t mean to scare you, really. This isn’t about what happened between us, this is something else. Well, no actually, it’s probably all linked but I can’t talk about what went on right now. I’ll only say that it wasn’t what you thought it was and I can only hope you’ll accept that for the moment and listen to what I have to say.
“I don’t care how this looks and I can’t listen to—or argue—with you. This is too important. There’s someone you have to meet. Don’t do it for me, do it for you. He can help you make some sense of everything that has happened and that will happen in the future. It will blow your mind, but you have to hear it first-hand. You would never believe me if I simply repeated it to you. Grab your coat now, because I’m not prepared to take ‘no’ for an answer.”
I’m beginning to wish that I downed the alcohol and wonder whether Alex is having some sort of mental breakdown. He is calmer now, but he’s very anxious and he’s watching me, no doubt wondering if I’ll simply throw him out.
“Look Alex, can this wait? I’m not sure I feel comfortable—”
“Ceri, I’ve never asked you to do anything for me in the two-plus years we’ve known each other. I don’t ask for favours. I’m asking for one now.”
“Okay, I’ll grab my coat.”
***
“Ceri, this is Ethan Morris. He’s a… umm, medium and he advises people on spiritual stuff, amongst other things. Sorry Ethan, it’s a lot to remember,” Alex looks embarrassed as Ethan steps forward to shake hands.
“Hi Ethan, nice to meet you.” His hand is warm, his handshake firm.
“He writes books too, forgot to say that,” Alex adds.
“I know, I’ve read one of them,” I admit.
“And what did you think?” Ethan asks, pointedly.
“Do you want the truth?”
Alex looks nervously between the two of us.
Ethan smiles and steers us towards the sofas in the corner. “Of course, listening to feedback from readers is invaluable.”
Alex flashes me a look. I think he wants me to take it easy on Ethan.
“Well, controversial is the word I would use. There were some rather unexpected statements. I think I can remember turning down the corner of a few pages.”
“And that’s a bad thing?” His eyebrows arch and I wonder if I should just gloss over this. It was a few years ago when I read The Ultimate Journey.
“No, it simply means there were things I didn’t understand. But that often happens. Some books I haven’t even been able to finish.”
“Why was that?” He seems genuinely interested. “Please, take a seat.”
“Thank you. Well, I’m not impressed by over-use of jargon for one thing or books that spend more time talking about ethics or religion. I suppose I’m searching for real answers that are explained in layman’s terms.”
“That’s a very valid point. Has it ever occurred to you that some things are not meant to be understood by the masses, only by those who are ready? That if we knew everything about the universe and the ethereal planes, then the whole purpose of this existence would be negated?”
“Ah, a bit like God visiting the earth and then non-believers would suddenly have the proof they are looking for to allow them to believe.”
He laughs. “Exactly! The whole point of religion is that the belief comes first, the proof comes later.” There’s a twinkle in his eye and even though I’ve seen his author photo, which is on the back of his books, he’s younger than I first thought. He looks academic, studious, whereas I would have expected a smartly dressed, slick talker. I may have watched too many psychic programmes on TV I suppose.
“Ceri, do you mind if Ethan explains why I’ve brought you here?”
Alex reaches out and touches my arm. He’s anxious, and a wave of guilt washes over me. I was wrong to take advantage of his friendship and burden him with the other half of my life; what did I expect?
I nod in agreement.
“Alex initially came to me seeking answers to a long list of questions he had. I have to start by saying that we aren’t talking about something that is black and white here. There are many different theories and you’ve already found out that my own views are perhaps a little different to the mainstream. I’m excluding those who are writing on a totally different page, of course, and whose beliefs do not come from the heart.” He pauses and looks briefly at Alex for approval, before continuing. Alex says nothing.
“Alex fears that you will not believe the explanation he has to give you for what has happened. Ceri, have you ever wondered why many of the genuine ‘do-gooders’ in life are often described as selfless? They don’t have relationships, are often distant from their families, some are orphans. And yet they usually have charismatic personalities that allow strangers to draw close to them and accept the help they offer. How odd then, that their kind acts and generous nature should be rewarded with what could be perceived to be strangely solitary personal lives. It doesn’t make sense. It conflicts with the very nature of karma and reaping what you sow. The reward is the happiness they bring to other people, but we generally accept that is merely one aspect of what is necessary to enjoy a fulfilled life here on earth.
“Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe you and your twin brother Seb are different because you weren’t created in the same way? When the two eggs fertilised, one was chosen to carry your energy. You were created with a special gift, but Seb’s creation was more in line with the mix of genes inherited from your parents.”
“That’s crazy! You can’t expect me to believe it was some sort of divine intervention.”
“It’s not that simple Ceri. But the fact is, your energy—which I believe is a higher energy and more evolved—was thrown into the mix. From what Alex has told me I truly believe that you are here to correct the anomalies that happen on this earthly plane: things that would upset the general order of existence. Accidents happen, often due to the fact that people have free choice and don’t always stay on the path that fate lays out for them, for all sorts of reasons. There is a little flexibility, of course, no path is meant to be straight. But to keep divine order, sometimes small corrections are required.”
He sits back, reaches for a jug of water on the side table next to him and offers a glass to Alex and myself. We both nod.
“But the things that happen to me are mostly small things, insignificant really. Maybe one or two more serious ones, but hardly worthy of thinking of it as divine intervention! Maybe Alex made it sound more important than it is.”
Alex downs his water in one. He looks dazed. I take a few sips and put the glass down. “Compared to mediumship for instance, my little episodes are nothing.”
“Alex’s dreams began when he first met you. It was no coincidence Ceri. Alex is a part of your destiny. I genuinely believe that he is here to help you and that’s why the two of you met. There is a life mapped out for each of you, but not as a couple, and the dreams simply remind him of that. But first your paths have to cross until the purpose is played out and it is time to move on.”
“Alex, do you believe this?”
“Ceri, when I told you that I was in love with someone and that they had broken my heart, that someone was you. In my dreams I receive warnings, the implication is that I’m hurting you by putting my emotions before my duty to keep you safe.”
Alex’s words astound me even more than Ethan’s. This is Alex, marketing executive and ad-copy genius. Not a guy with superhuman powers, emerging like Superman to sort out my problems when I’m in too deep.
“I think we need a reality check,” I say, letting out a huge breath.
“Ceri, you know my theory about dreams and I’m not alone in my thinking. It’s all in the book. When we fall into deep sleep our energy revisits another plane to continue the work we do there. Our consciousness is not allowed the memory of what happens on those visits unless we are either highly evolved already, or a memory is left for a reason. Alex has been allowed to remember parts of his astral travels to correct the path he’s on. It has been made very clear to him.
“You don’t see angels, Ceri, you are an angel. Most angels never visit this plane. In the normal course of events there is no need for them to experience life itself. Alex is simply a spirit helper who is here to guide you and keep you safe during a difficult time when your abilities really begin to develop. Then he will move on to fulfil his own destiny. He’s broken one of the cardinal rules. You were not meant to fall in love with each other.”