The Hours #21

When mother entered the study, I could tell by the look on her face that she intended to speak her mind. She sat down a tray of tea, took a seat, and then patted a spot beside her.

I took the seat and the cup of tea.

“My dear boy,” she said. “You have been acting strangely for over a week. You have neglected your Mary and you have been avoiding your friends. Has something happened?”

I shook my head. “It is not so much that something happened as that my view of things has changed.”

“What do you mean?”

I rubbed my face, considering my words for a moment. “Have you ever went to bed at night with worries only to wake in the morning knowing exactly how to proceed?”

She smiled. “I have.” She looked at me for a second and then patted my leg. “I have and I understand, but you must keep the world around you in perspective. Mary needs to hear from you. You cannot abandon her without a word after the amount of time the two of you have spent together.”

I nodded and sipped my tea. As I considered what I would say when I saw Mary, I fell so far into my thoughts that I did not note my Mother leaving the room.

Tonight, I would talk to Mary. Tomorrow, I would speak to Carl. Finally, on Saturday, I would call upon Samantha and speak to her father. I would pursue her the proper way, treating her as a lady. I would treat her as she deserved to be treated.

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The Hours #20

I watched the others sleep but noticed that they did not sleep well. All of my companions twitched and fidgeted, making pained and frightened noises as they did so. I had no idea how long they would sleep, but I took the time to consider my course of action.

When they woke, each looked around in confusion with fear in their eyes before they realized where they were. Eyes roamed around, looking for the beasts from their nightmares as the quiet of the afternoon was ripped apart by gasps of surprise.

Samantha was the first to wake. She looked at me and her eyes narrowed when she saw Mary resting against my chest. When her eyes returned to mine, she bit her lip, lowered her eyes again and lifted her hand to wipe her eyes. She did not meet my gaze again, though she did sit up so that Carl’s arms were no longer around her. I wish she had looked up so that she could have seen me smile at her.

Mark was the next to rise. He looked around the boat and rubbed his neck. I assumed that was the last physical sensation he could remember from when I had watched the torch disappear into the night. After his eyes met mine he turned around and looked at Samantha. He looked at Carl’s sleeping face, sighed, and then turned to stare over the side of the boat.

Mary woke and began brushing her arms. She looked all over, searching her arm and skirts for intruders before looking at us and letting out a sigh of relief. She curled into my arms, burying her face against my chest and shuddered.

Carl was the last to wake. He jerked up with a start and drew in a huge breath. After his moments of disorientation, he sighed and shook his head.

None of us spoke. Carl and I picked up the oars and moved the boat along as fast as was possible until making our port. Odd and uncomfortable words were exchanged with the boat’s owners and the coach drivers, but everyone was as off put by our attitudes as we were.

My friends and I parted ways. I sat in the study, staring at the fire and drinking far more brandy than was my norm, replaying the dreams that I was certain were not just dreams.

I would have to proceed with caution. I would not hurt Mary. She deserved better than that, but I could not ignore what I felt for Samantha. In that strange dream world, despite its horrors and pain, I had found love.