Ghost walk re Visited

Ghost Walk Re visited

20^th April 2020

It’s almost a year since my evening Ghost Walk with Angela, which was followed by a midnight date on the 1^st November the following year, where I was to meet her once again. Only this time I would see her as the mysterious flower seller. Her smile was all that I have seen in my memory every day since that night in Priestgate, here in Peterborough. Her last words to me were “Same time next year my love”.

The museum was still offering the walks throughout the Autumn/Winter months, and I was almost tempted to see if the same thing would happen again, remembering Henry and his strange walk/glide plus his attire which was scary enough.  I quickly put that thought out of my mind as I didn’t want to find

myself in a different situation and miss the chance of seeing Angela again.

I made up my mind that I would make midnight on November 1^st a date, praying that Angela would be there once again.  I couldn’t wait for the hours to go by. It had been the longest year of my life with such expectancy of what I hoped would be the wonderful meeting with Angela.  I couldn’t eat that evening, just wanted to get ready and go to town. Watching the minutes tick by I decided to make a move and get parked as near as possible, which wouldn’t be difficult at this hour.

11.30pm, I am sitting in the car when I realise I am trembling, not from fear but sheer excitement at what I am hoping will be a longer meeting than last year. It’s almost time, so I walk towards the corner and pass the museum, feel a distinct icy chill in the air which suddenly turns back to normal then one hundred yards along the road there is the corner of Priestgate and the steps from which I cannot avert my eyes. I thought of sitting on those steps but I thought it better not to change anything.  I stood as before, waiting when that same chime rang out the midnight hour.  There she was, same as before, surrounded by flowers of all colours looking as beautiful as my memory held of her for the last twelve months.

“Oh my love, you came back, I am so happy to see you again” Her voice so soft and sweet just as I remembered. “Come and sit with me, you must be cold standing there”. Yes I was, but in her dress and shawl wasn’t she I wondered?  

I walked over to her, the beautiful fragrance from the flowers and those outstretched arms, all feeling of cold disappeared as I sat down beside her, she put her arms around me, I couldn’t believe the feeling from her. This lady is a ghost but she feels so real, I am totally entranced by this wonderful feeling as I turn towards her for the kiss that I have dreamt of for a whole year.  I close my eyes to fully appreciate the warmth of her then as we part I open my eyes to see everything has changed.

It is no longer a cold November night but a warm spring like day. Angela is still here and folk are buying her flowers, bidding her a good morning, some just stopping for a little chat. She turns to me and smiles saying “don’t worry, you will soon feel at home”. It was then that I noticed my clothes had changed. I was no longer wearing my winter coat & scarf but what could only be described as smart with trousers that reached the knees, shirt with ruffles and shoes with buckles. What I believe to be a Jacobean style of the early seventeenth century. Angela looked somewhat similar with her dress long and flowing with lace trimmings. She looked so beautiful she took my breath away. I had almost forgotten that this shouldn’t be happening. Just where am I?  

Ladies with parasols, gentlemen in fine suits with tall hats (That brings back a memory) all passing by on this very busy cobbled street. Horses pulling carts of differing goods or passengers. A busy place indeed.

Sitting on this step, still holding onto Angela’s hand, almost frightened to let go as I am imagining she is my only way back to reality.  She must have read my mind, she turned to me and with a voice so beautiful she said “my love, this was your reality.

“I shall take you from here in a while and show you how you once lived so many years ago”.  My mind is doing cartwheels now, should I let go of Angela and see what happens or should I go along with this and take my chance that this is all a dream.

After a while Angela said “it’s time to go”, we stood up still holding hands. Her flowers had all disappeared and the road was no longer as busy. We walked back towards where the museum stood previously, no cars to be seen. We took a turn into a narrow street the end of which opened out into a huge grassy square surrounded by houses of many shapes and sizes but all looking clean and smart, but built mostly with wood and a type of plaster. Not a brick to be seen anywhere. Many folk were on this green playing with their children or just sitting talking. I am beginning to feel as if I’ve been here before. Angela said “do you not recognise this place my love”,  I must admit, I didn’t feel quite a stranger at this point then as we got nearer to those on the green some started to look our way. That’s when it started to get really scary. “Hello Roy” said a fellow sitting with his daughter, reading. I returned his greeting and realised I knew him. It was Dave an old school mate, I hadn’t seen for many years. Then a ladies’ voice that I recognised immediately as my dear old friend Linda with who I had spent a lot of my childhood and early teenage years. But why were they here? In fact, why am I here?

I stopped walking and turned to face Angela with that gorgeous smile.  ‘I want to kiss you, but I’m afraid of what will happen next’. “Don’t be scared now my love, all will become clearer to you very soon”.

We came to the front of a cosy looking house, Angela opened the door leading me inside. Oh my! sparsely but comfortably furnished, very homely and my mind is telling me I should recognise this place but all I could think of was that first meeting with Angela on the ghost walk which has led to this.

My house, wife and daughters, grandchildren. My years of working and all my friends, I am completely confused as to what is real or is this all a dream from which I will soon awake. I am feeling so happy to be with Angela but not so sure about a life in the mid seventeenth century or even if this is to be an option. But once again my mind is being read by this beautiful lady who has bought me here. “I think it’s time for you to know the truth.  Sit with me and I shall explain everything”. 

“This is our house where you lived with me and our daughter.  Our daughter sadly passed away through sickness at a very young age.  We were very happy together and loved each other very much.  One day while you were working at the forge shoeing horses for our local traders you were kicked by one of these horses. You never regained consciousness, but I stayed by your side until the day you passed away.  I was taken ill some months later mostly due to a broken heart, but that same heart was telling me that we would meet again.  So you see, that while you appear to be living a normal life way off in the future, it is all a vision. I can see that vision as I have followed your every step knowing that one day you would walk back to me.  The Ghost Walk was all a plan and fortunately for me it worked. But my love, you now see that not only you and I but those friends you saw have all passed away and now the choice is yours”.

“Hold me while you decide, I will feel your decision, and I can take you back if you so desire.  If that is your wish please promise me you will visit again, I shall be waiting.  Remember that whatever you decide, I will always be here for you”.

A decision that I find almost impossible to make. I do so want to be with this beautiful lady. I can feel love like I’ve never known. Well, let’s say I do not remember knowing from three hundred years ago.  I do know my history though, and would this mean going through the troubled times throughout these years.

Then again, Angela and those faces I saw passed away so long ago, as it appears, so did I.

This is going to be a decision that I am going to regret one way or another.

I have no memory of this past life whatsoever, but I have many wonderful memories of my life more recent.  The thought of losing my daughters and granddaughters, and other family fills me with dread. As much as I would cherish the exceptional love that Angela has to give, would it be enough to make me stay?

While these thoughts are going through my mind, Angela takes my hands in hers, I look her in the eyes to see a tear begin to run down her cheek.

“I fear you have made your decision Roy” as I wipe away her tear.  ‘Is there no way you could come back with me, to the future, where life is so much easier’

“If that were a possibility I would have done it many years ago before you made the life you have now”.

“I will take you back now, where you can be with the family you know and love. I will watch over you as I have always done and should you in the future change your mind I will be waiting. All you need to do is return to the steps at midnight look to the clock on the wall and ask to see the flower seller. I will come for you”.

We walked back in silence, hand in hand to the steps on the corner where I turned to see that beautiful face and kiss those lips one more time. Then as we parted saying goodbye tears fell from my eyes to the floor. Angela disappeared into a mist and I Iooked around to see the museum and my car. I’m back but, Oh how will this ever end. And just one question remains.

Am I a ghost or will I wake up when the alarm goes off at 7.30?