Every Cloud - Part Two

EVERY CLOUD (PART 2)

 

   The darkness came and then the light. Below Miriam’s feet was her cloud once again. She instantly ran over to one side and looked down. She could see golden sands and a roaring sea. Her eyes were then drawn in.

   She was now watching two men and two women, in T-shirts and shorts, playing beach volleyball. She kept her eyes fixed as they continued to dig, set and spike.

   As Miriam became settled as a spectator, she noticed that one of the men looked familiar. But he had jet black hair, a goatee and a tattoo on his right arm.

   It can’t be him

   The man’s face was now in full view. Miriam blinked and shook her head.

   Nathan, what have you done to yourself?

   A little while later Nathan retired and sat down on a towel nearby. One of the women, who had ebony skin and braided hair sat beside him.

   ‘Are you okay, Nathan?’ the woman said.

   ‘Sorry Bernice, I couldn't focus.’ Nathan said.

   ‘Do you need to see a doctor?’

   ‘No, I’ll be fine in a moment. I was just thinking about Miriam.’

   ‘Your wife?’

   ‘Yes, she died three months ago. She loved volleyball. She was actually playing for the university when we met.’

   ‘How did she die?’

   ‘She was murdered.’

   ‘How awful.’

   Bernice placed her arm around Nathan. It made Miraim feel uncomfortable. She then looked at her watch. Time had flown, it read: 18:59.

   ‘It should’ve been me.’ Nathan said.

   ‘What do you mean?’ Bernice asked.

   ‘I stole something.’

   ‘What happened?’

   ‘I used to sell antiques until Mr Goldstein fired me for something that was not my fault. I was angry and wanted revenge so I went to his treasure trove and took a silver cross. I had heard Mr Goldstein talk of this cross as if it was one of his children.’

   ‘Mr Goldstein came for the cross?’

   ‘Yeah, but I wouldn't let him have it. So he destroyed my wife’s garden and burned my house down. I managed to escape, but I had to change my identity and move as far away from my home as possible.’

   ‘That sounds horrid.’

   ‘It was, but he never got the Argent.’

   ‘What did you say?’

   ‘The Argent, the silver cross. Do you know of it?’

   ‘I used to own one, a small one anyway.’

   On the stroke of seven o’clock, Miriam found herself back in the dark. A second later she was surrounded by white and was looking Cornell in the eyes.

   ‘How was it?’ he asked.

   ‘It was harder than last time.’ Miriam said.

   ‘It's never easy to watch life go on without you.’

   ‘I’m not sure if I want to visit my cloud again.’

   ‘That is your choice to make.’

   Miriam thanked Cornell and left the white room.

   As she turned to her left she noticed another woman with braided hair, but dressed in white, seated at the end of the row. All the other seats were bare.

   As she began to stroll towards the woman, she noticed a silver cross hanging on a chain around her neck. The woman then looked up revealing her ebony face. Miriam took a step backwards and shook her head with vigor.

   ‘It’s you! How is this possible?’ Miriam cried.

   ‘Oh, hi,’ the woman said. ‘Not quite the greeting I expected.’

   ‘Bernice?’

‘   No, I’m Joylyn. Even up here we get mixed up.’

   ‘I don’t understand. You look just like Bernice.’

   ‘Do you know my twin sister?’

   ‘No, but I guess I just saw her.’

   ‘Really! Was she okay?’

   ‘She seemed alright’

   ‘That’s good to know.’

    Miriam allowed Joylyn to reminise a bit longer then continued.

   ‘Did you know Nathan Songhurst?’

   ‘That name seems familiar,' said Joylyn. 'Oh yeah, I went to school with him years ago. Bernice knew him better though.’

   ‘How long ago was that?’

   ‘A good twenty years.’

   Miriam stopped her interrogation for a brief moment and focused her eyes on the dangling cross around Joylyn’s neck. It was a double cross consisting of a vertical line, crossed by two smaller horizontal bars.

   ‘Why do you wear this silver cross?’ Miriam then asked.

   ‘It is called the Argent, the cross of protection,’ Joylyn said. ‘Though it didn't quite work for me. Can I ask you something?’

   ‘Sure, what do you want to know?’

   ‘This is my first time here. How does it work?

   ‘They call your name. You go into the room. They give you a cloud. You are sent to it. You view your loved one. They bring you back.’

   ‘How long do you have?’

   ‘I had half an hour.’

   ‘Joylyn Rock.’ roared Cornell’s voice.

   ‘Go in through there.’ Miriam said as she pointed towards the door.

   ‘Thanks for your help,’ Joylyn said. ‘I really enjoyed the conversation, even the weird stuff.’

   Miriam smirked. ‘You are welcome.’

   She watched Joylyn enter the white room and then made her way back outside.

   As Miriam strolled along the meandering path, she remembered what her mum had said about things becoming clearer when she had found her role. At that precise moment she was clueless. 

* * *

 ‘Excuse me, could you help me?’ a straight faced man with russet hair asked.

   ‘Yes, certainly.’ Miriam said.

   ‘I’m not sure if I’m in the right place. I’m looking for the guardian of the clouds.’

   ‘Take a seat, relax. The guardian will be with you shortly.’

   The man smiled and sat down.