| Subject: |
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FREEDOM OF CHOICE - Part 2 |
| Name: |
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William |
| Date Posted: |
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May 31, 06 - 4:11 PM |
| Email: |
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butlerwm@hotmail.com |
| Message: |
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FREEDOM OF CHOICE - Part 2
"Why don't you just walk away from him?" Rachel pulled her legs into the seat and crossed them. "I suppose you're gonna tell him you're a witch."
"Hadn't planned on it. But now that you mention it...."
Rachel interrupted, her voice staying matter-of-fact. "I'll see you in hell first."
The room grew quiet and the two women stared across the darkness at one another. Outside, the rain fell more heavily and in the distance lightning flashed followed by thunder that shook the windows in their frames.
"When you and Alex spirited me away from Robert I swore I'd never let anyone interfere in my life like that again. For three years you held me prisoner in my own home – long enough for him to meet someone else, fall in love, and marry. This is my life, my heart, and I will do with it as I see fit. And it's not for you, or Alex, or any of the others to say who I will love."
Rachel stood and started toward the door. When she grasped the handle she stopped and turned back.
"Consider what you're doing." The darkness hid her tears. "I was in your position once. I made the same choice – the same mistake – you're getting ready to make, now. And in the end it cost me a great deal."
Anger still covered Helen's face, but the comment peeked her interest.
"What do you mean?" She said with an angry tongue.
"I'm talking about your father."
"What do you mean?" She repeated. "Our father was a witch. Just like you. Just like me."
"No." Rachel shook her head. "Alex and Camira's father was a witch. But you, my oldest child, your father was human like this man you love. He gave me a child – you – and because I loved him I confided in him. But like all of them, he proved unworthy of my trust. He threatened to tell others, to bring them to my door – all the while ranting about evil and the devil's children. So I killed him.”
"Liar!"
"No." She closed her eyes. "That was almost a hundred years ago. But it still hurts. Even after all this time. I was hoping to spare you that."
Helen felt a lump in her throat when she tried to respond. She swallowed and tried again.
"What if I told you my situation was different. What if I told you Mark was different."
"I'd call you a liar," Rachel answered, "or a fool. Most likely a fool because that's what you are when you're in love."
Tears flowed down her cheeks. Yet, she kept her voice even and calm.
"We – you and I – are more alike than we admit. We both let ourselves fall prey to the same feelings. But when we're surrounded by these people; when we work with them and live with them; we lose site of the truth. We have a responsibility to protect our own – and we have to place that above our feelings. Because if they learn who we are, come to believe the myths and legends and fairy tales, then we are threatened. If you tell him you put all of us at risk. Not just yourself."
"So what would you suggest I do?"
Rachel sighed.
"Go away and never come back. Have your child and come live with me if nothing else."
She opened the door, stepped through and waited a moment without turning. When Helen didn't respond, she closed the door behind her.
At the restaurant Mark finished another coffee. He checked his watch still again and turned to glance out the window. The rain fell in sheets, hitting hard against the glass and blurring the scene outside. He noticed a figure standing on the sidewalk across the street. The person wore a long coat and no hat, but Mark could not tell if it was a man or woman. After a short while the figure turned and walked away. Mark turned back to his coffee, realized the cup was empty, and motioned to the waitress for another refill.
Outside, Helen walked away from the restaurant. She lowered her head and turned up the collar of her coat. At the corner she was surprised to find Rachel waiting. They held each other for a long while then without speaking continued to walk in the rain.
THE END
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