12/29/13
“Why do you have to keep visiting her?” asked Suzie.
“Because I promised,” I said with a sigh. “I already explained all of this last year. I told you from the start that I’ve been married before.”
“But you don’t have to keep that promise anymore.”
“Well, I believe I do. Maybe I’m just weird. Besides, you should appreciate my faithfulness. I’ve made the same promise to you.”
“The promise is supposed to be, ‘until death do you part’. That means that once one person dies, the other one is free. You’re not supposed to keep honoring that vow after the other person is gone,” said Suzie.
“No,” I sighed. “Not after they’re gone. You’re right about that. But I guess you just can’t understand, even though I’ve already explained it. She’s not completely gone.”
“Actually I do understand. I know what you think; but you’re wrong. There’s no such thing as ghosts.”
“I don’t have time to keep arguing this. I need to hurry or I’ll be late.”
“Why does it have to be tonight? Even if you feel the need to visit, why can’t it be some other time? New Year’s Eve is when couples are supposed to be together. It’s brings good luck to their relationship for the whole coming year if they see it arrive together.”
“Yes, I know. That’s why I have to hurry.”
“What?! You’d rather spend it with her?”
“Bye, now. We can talk about it more in a few hours.”
* * * * *
“I’m here, Beth. Sorry to have kept you waiting. My new wife is having a hard time accepting this. She thought I should stay with her tonight. She doesn’t know me very well yet. That’s not surprising though. It takes time to learn what someone’s really like, and we haven’t been together even two years. It’ll be a long time before she understands me the way you did. I still don’t get why you insisted I marry again. I could have got along fine just being alone.
“Oh, here; I brought you something. There; what do you think of those? The florist was nearly out of red roses, and the last few looked old. But these pink ones are pretty too. And this cold air will keep them fresh for quite a while. The lights across the lake look really crisp tonight, don’t they?
“Wait a second. Did you hear that? I think someone’s coming. Who’s there?! Hello?!”
“Oh, here you are,” said Suzie. “I’ve been looking all over this place trying to find you.”
“Suzie! What are you doing here?”
“Since you insisted on making this visit tonight, I decided I’d come too. That way we can at least be together here.”
“You shouldn’t have come.”
“It was spooky at first. But now that I’m getting used to it, it’s actually kind of exciting.”
“No, I mean it. You really shouldn’t have come. You don’t understand.”
“Why is her headstone glowing like that? I thought it was just the moonlight reflecting; but it’s not.”
“You need to go. Quickly!”
“But I want us to be together. I — Unh. Unh! What’s happening?!”
“Go! Hurry!”
“I can’t — Unh. What is –? Help me! Unh!”
“Suzie! Suzie, can you hear me?!”
“Ahh. Oh, yes! It’s so good to be alive again.”
“Suzie; are you ok?”
“Yes. I’m ok. I feel great! But I’m not Suzie.”
“What? Is it — Are you. Beth?!”
“Oh, Honey. I’m back. In here.”
“Beth? But how? Where’s Suzie?”
“She’s down there, where I was. Where I’ve been the past few years. I’m glad she came this time. I was disappointed when you didn’t bring her last year. But it was so hard to get you to understand what to do. It took forever just to convince you to marry again. But we’re together now. So it’s ok.”
“Are you — are you going to stay in her?”
“Yes. Of course. But you don’t have to worry. No one will think anything of it. To everyone else it’ll still look like you’re living with your second wife. Only you and I will know the difference.”
“But what about Suzie? Won’t she know?!”
“Well, yes. But there’s not much she can do about it. Come on, let’s go home. I can’t wait to get away from this place. I’ve been here too long already.”
“Oh. Uh. You go ahead. I’ll be right behind you. I just want to –”
“OK. But don’t be long.”
“Suzie? Suzie, can you hear me? Look, I, uh. I didn’t know this would happen. But I told you I was afraid for you to come here. I guess now we know why. Both of us. I wish you had believed me when I said you shouldn’t come.
“I’m afraid I have to go with her now. It’s like I always told you, once I make a vow I keep it. And I made one to Beth long ago, so I must honor it.
“But listen, I haven’t forgotten I made one to you too. I’ve also grown to love you these past two years. So I won’t leave you here alone forever. I’ll come visit regularly. I’ll come more than just once a year, too; now that I know better what’s going on.
“Look; I’ll talk with Beth. She’s always been fair and honest. I’m sure I can make her realize it’s not right to just take your place without your consent. Maybe she’ll be willing to trade back eventually. Heck, maybe you two can even take turns or something. You know, like have alternate years.
“Well, I have to go now. I don’t want to keep her waiting. But I’ll be back. I’ll think of something. Bye, Suzie. Bye.”
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