I walked into work feeling blissfully relaxed and stress-free. I had finished the story about the mysterious wolves of New Zealand one day early and spent the rest of my time in New Zealand checking out the Waitomo caves and sampling the local food and wine. It was my first working holiday since I’d positioned myself here in the human world and the best one I had been on. Life was good.
I had just arrived at my desk and was setting up my computer when Carl walked by. He stopped when he reached my desk and smiled at me. It was the sort of smile that said ‘I don’t like you, but you did good, kid. And you might be a good asset to the company.’ It brightened my already glowing mood.
“Emma, that story was… the trip must have inspired you.”
I smiled back. “Yes. It did. Thanks, Carl.”
Then he studied me and gave me a look that pierced my soul. It made me squirm uncomfortably.
“You seem really… happy,” said Carl.
Now that he was pulling me up on my new sunshiny attitude, it made me have doubts. I did feel happier and more positive than normal, and I had no idea why. Then I remembered Darcy’s face. It popped up in my mind like an annoyance I couldn’t quite shake. I didn’t even know why he was an annoyance. His face was just there, persistent in my mind. Why was I thinking of Darcy so much when I hadn’t seen him in years… My phone beeped, and I snapped out of my reverie. I picked it up and was absorbed in checking my emails, so Carl walked away and left me to it. I sat down and tried to read the email but couldn’t focus. It was like I was intoxicated when I was, in fact, sober. I was in control of my actions, but the fine motor skills and the logical thinking weren’t quite working. It was then I saw who the email was from, and it was at that moment it all came back to me.
Darcy was in my mind because he was with me in New Zealand, and this façade and this feeling I had was for a very good reason.
In the end, it all came back to Darcy.
Emma,
I’m sorry I did what I did in New Zealand. But I had no choice. I couldn’t let you kill the wolves because deep down I think you would have regretted it if you let yourself feel. When I was near you, I felt you were starting to open up, and it was a good thing.
But you’re stubborn, Emma. You’ve always been stubborn, and it is with that stubbornness you’ve closed yourself off to feeling anything. Your heart is a stone. But I will break through. I know in time I will.
The memory wipe is only temporary. You will remember me and our time together in a day or two, but I hope you won’t remember the deep rage that filled your heart. I have never seen you so enraged. And I hate the fact that I may be the cause of all your pain.
So I did the only thing I could at the time, and that was to make you forget, if just for a brief moment in time.
But we are immortal, you and I, Emma, and time is on our side. So I pray you will eventually stop hating me for what I did.
I didn’t mean you any harm.
I will always love you.
Yours forever,
Darcy