Previously
Our three friends have now been joined by Electra, whom Prostremo has fallen deeply in love for. For a while Prostremo seemed to have come back into the present as opposed to always wishing for things in the future, but that was short lived.
After a little quarrel between himself and Preteritus, they spotted a magpie that dropped something shiny from its beak. Thinking it was part of the treasure they were seeking; they ran over, Prostremo getting there first.
The story Continued
Just as Prostremo leant over the object and was about to pick it up, Electra who had caught up, slightly out of breath gave a little gasp “I don't believe it, it can't be possible, how did it end up here?”
Picking the thin band of gold up and holding it between her finger and thumb, Electra read out the inscription on the inside of the ring ‘Forever in my heart, E'
Sinking to the ground, with her back against the trunk of the large oak tree, Electra continued “I have never told anyone the story of my beloved Darius and Sophia before; I just never felt I could. Even though I felt I had dealt with the pain and loss and got on with my life, I still wanted to keep them in my heart.
“I know now, that not only are my Angels still firmly alive in my heart, and as the ring says will be there forever, but now in physical death the continuum of their life is touching you as well. I feel so privileged to know that they are still with me and that I can share their wonderful memories with those that I value in person around me now.
“How quickly we almost forget what really matters in life. Like the continuity of this ring, our lives can come full circle and yet are only complete in the moment of realisation.
“Every moment is as it is, it's not only part of the journey, it is also part of the treasure of being alive, of breathing the clean, free and yet abundant air. It's about sharing everything with friends past, present and future in the moment you are alive”
Just then a light drumming on the tree tops heralded rain as the three friends looked at Electra with compassion and deep understanding. Even if you find difficulty in explaining something, if you let go of the effort to think about how to put it into words, and instead just let your inner eye or mind speak freely with passion, then your meaning will become clear.
When we have passion and belief, whether it is about someone or something, our enthusiasm can carry others on the waves of understanding, just as with few words, Electra was able to completely convey her feelings to her companions.
“Look at the time, it's going to be dark soon and now with the rain, we better find somewhere to hole up for the night” said Prostremo
With a mischievous grin in his eyes, Preteritus in as innocent sounding a voice as he could muster, asked “I suppose you would like me to move into Nunco's tent tonight guys?”
Electra, a strong willed person, proud of her identity and as stubborn as a mule, quickly retorted “get your mind under control my dear Preteritus, besides my mum told me never to talk to strangers!”
“Who mentioned talking anyway?” quipped Preteritus.
“Oh come on guys, what goes on between consenting adults is none of our concern” Nunco quickly added, and turning to Electra trying to alleviate the situation by altering the subject “interesting concept, ‘not speaking to strangers', I guess you did not take everything your mum said literally?”
“Well I did actually, certainly as a child, since there was talk once of a young girl who went missing – no-one knew what happened to her for years, until it transpired that she had gone to live with her grand parents. Apparently her Dad was an alcoholic and used to come home late at night and lay into her mother.”
“Her mother was terrified for the young girl, Rosie was her name; the girl's name that is, and she sent her off to be safe from the raging maniac that her father used to turn into after a night on the bottle.
“The Mother - oh, what was her name, I am sure it will come to me – anyway, she was more afraid of being left alone to bring up a young girl, so she stayed with the man who was beating her senseless most nights of the week.
“One night, she finally faced up to her fears and realised that her Rosie was more important than her pride, than her fear of being found out to appear weak as a person who was being abused.
“She had lived in denial all of those years, until finally she picked up the courage to tell the local police about her husband, who waited for him one night and confronted him with what he was doing. They took him down to the local cells, where they kept him for the night.
“Anyway, he broke down the next morning and pledged never to drink again, joined the nearest Alcoholics Anonymous society and has never touched a drop since. Like all bullies, he was just desperately insecure and did not really know how to cope with life and took it out on his poor Kathy; yes Kathy, that's her name.
“It was a very happy ending in fact, because when he gave up the drink, he soon started working really well and came to the attention of his bosses and he got a massive promotion, which meant they had enough money to build a granny flat and bring the grand parents, who had been looking after Rosie, to live beside them.
“The other good thing was that it really brought home the lesson about talking to strangers, home to me. It kept me safe, because at the time I was terrified that I would go missing, but it also taught me to face my fears.
“Remembering how terrified I had been with my own mum's bidding in respect of talking to strangers. I softened what I said to my little Sophie. I told her to ‘only speak to people that Mum and Dad know or say you can speak with'. At least that way she would never have been afraid of public speaking if she has remained with us.
“Quite the story teller, aren't you” said Prostremo affectionately “and there is always a lesson to learn from all of them! I guess one of the greatest lessons you have taught me is to live for the moment. I now realise that all steps, you take, take you forward from here, there are no backward ones.
“I spend much of my time daydreaming and planning ahead, which I find leads to expectations that are very often not met, leading to disappointment. Where with your outlook, no matter what happens you accept it for what it is and try and make the best of the moment.”
Like his friends, infected with Electra's enthusiasm and not wanting to be outdone, Preteritus added “I suppose when a person smiles then world smiles with you, and a little love travels like the ripples on a lake, which affects everyone who encounters that little piece of everyday magic in a beautiful chain reaction.”
Nunco then quickly said “Right now, in this place, at this precise moment in time I know that there is nothing more in the world that I could ever ask for. My two friends and our beautiful new travelling companion just demonstrate that all we can ever want is already inside us.
“Today as we sit here in the trees, feeling the rain drops softly trickling down through the overhead canopy of the forest, hearing the wind whistling through the branches and seeing such serenity, peace and happiness in all of you – I feel in every fibre of being that there can indeed be heaven on earth.
“If the treasure that we seek is greater than this, then I sit here in awe as to what it may be, yet right now, I have all that I could ever want. Ok, I do have dreams and yes I do want to do and see many things, but I know now and accept who I am, and that person is ready for what ever this wood, forest, journey or world can throw at me.”
The rain drops started to get heavier, a steady drumbeat. Everyone struggled to put up the tents on the floor of the clearing which was compacted like rock. Just then they saw a dazzling streak of lightening and almost simultaneously they hear the loud clap of thunder.
Looking up in horror, Prostremo saw………… To be continued
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