A Destined Death (8 page)

Answers were scarce, and I’d gone numb hours ago. The attendants ushered me out the gates at closing time so I sat down on a bench in the parking lot still staring off into space. When the sun went down, I heard someone sit down beside me but I couldn’t break free of my sulking to glance over.

“You take things much too seriously, Elizabeth.”

“Did you think I wanted that money? Are you a thief?”

“I most certainly am not, and I resent that remark.”

“Pfft. Like I care.”

“Look at me.”

My eyes rolled over to him against my will. A few random streetlights lit the empty parking lot, but the two strobe lights by the entrance of the building framed his face. Even thought it was creased with lines of distress, he was so handsome, I couldn’t look away. And I did care, whether or not I would admit it. I wanted to lean into him and share my grief.

“You’re looking at this the wrong way.”

“Oh, yeah? How exactly should I look at it?”

He leaned closer to me, warming my body even though he didn’t touch me. “Consider this, what’s mine is yours.”

“Why?” I whispered.

“Just accept the gifts, Elizabeth,” he groaned. “I want nothing in return.”

“Are you a thief?” I asked again.

“I told you no. Try to think about something else. We’re on a date, and I want you to enjoy yourself. Where would you like to go first?”

Enjoy myself?
I suddenly considered the possibility that a conspiracy theory was at work in the universe.

“Yes, enjoy yourself.”

I stared at him, long and hard. “That is so freaky.”

He frowned. “Let’s go out. I promised you a date.”

“I don’t much feel like it right now,” I said with a sigh.

“Money depresses you this much?”

“You can’t buy me!” I demanded, finding a little bit of strength. The words felt good coming out of my mouth like they’d been pent up all day and had finally found a way to escape. I crossed my arms but the motion made me acutely aware of a harsh sunburn so I returned them to my lap, ignoring the pain it caused.

“Soup is all right but a little bit of cash gets you bundled in knots.”

“A little bit?” I asked unbelievably.

He stood up to pace in front of me. “There will come a time when you will have to accept that you are special. You are special to me.”

“I’m not that special. Take your money back.”

“I won’t.”

“Should I give it away then?”

“If it brings you happiness,” he said, “or…you could reconsider your future.”

“No!” I spat, outraged that he could remain so calm while discussing such a serious amount of money.

Draven shook his head. “So you want to spend the next two years hiding in a school and working constantly but what if…what if two years is all you have left?”

Sucking in my breath, I looked up at him. He had stopped pacing and stared at me, a serious look encasing his features.

“Why would I only have two years left?”

“Would you still choose your plan?”

“I don’t know,” I replied warily. “Why are you asking me that?”

“Think about it, Elizabeth.”

I filled my lungs with air and exhaled slowly in hopes of calming my frayed nerves. I counted to ten. And then I screamed, “Are you telling me I’m going to die in two years?”

“You could have died last week,” he said seriously.

“Stop pointing that out!” I exploded into tears and lunged for him. I couldn’t recall a time I’d ever needed someone’s arms around me as badly as I did at that moment. The instant my arms wrapped around him, my tears stopped. No sobs remained, no sadness, I suddenly felt calm as if nothing else mattered but us.

“You must go home now. You have to think about what I've said. You’ll need time to accept it.”

“Accept dying?” I whispered, the wretched thought plaguing my mind. I closed my eyes, shook my head, and nestled into him as his arms encircled my waist.

****

I didn’t remember anything after his arms went around me. I woke up the next morning in my own bed. Strangely, my arms weren’t sun burnt like I’d thought in the dark parking lot but I didn’t move them at first. How I’d gotten home wasn’t the most pressing question on my mind either.  

“What if you only have two years left?”
topped off with,
“You could have died last week,”
left an open invitation for me to consider my mortality. What if I
did
only have two years left?
Would
I still choose my plan? Thoughts twisted and swirled, images of death, Alicia’s gravestone, my gravestone. I shuddered.

I couldn’t believe it was true.

I settled on two theories. If he were a psychic who saw the future, I had to believe that future could be changed. If he were a guardian angel as I’d thought when he saved me from the gang of kids, there would be nothing I could do. Both would explain how he knew the things I secretly wished for.

I didn’t truly accept my death decree but I decided to try to enjoy myself more just in case. I would make sure to laugh more every day and stop taking things so seriously. I also decided I would still choose my plan. Authors lived on in their books, and every time someone read their words, they were remembered. Not many artists were famous until after they died anyway.

****

“The man I marry is going to have pecks,” Brenda said, grabbing her breasts for emphasis. “He’s going to have rock hard abs and muscular arms. Oh, and he’ll be a famous football player too. But I want to meet him before he gets rich, when he’s all innocent and fresh, ya know? That way I’ll know who he really is inside.” She peeked over her shoulder at the manager’s door. “What about you? What’s your dream guy like?”

I wiped off the last empty table and shrugged. “The dinner rush is going to start any minute.”

“It hasn’t started yet.” Brenda took the rag out of my hand and threw it into the bussing bin. “You said you were going to start loosening up.”

I sighed at the reminder. “All right. I guess the guy I want to marry would be protective and kind. Chivalrous, you know, like a knight in shining armor? The kind of guy who’ll help a woman stranded on the side of the road. He’d be strong too, not a pushover, but at the same time he’d love me more than himself, and I’d love him the same. We’d have this romantic story of how we fell in love, and we’d just know that we were meant to be together. There wouldn’t be any doubts.”

“Meant to be together?” Brenda scoffed in a cynical tone as she rolled her eyes. “That’s sweet, but I think you read too much fiction. Life is about choices, and we choose who we want to be with. Love doesn’t choose us.”

I shrugged again. “Hey, you asked about my dream guy. I don’t really think he exists.”

When the bell on the door rang, she pulled out her notepad and smiled. “Nice necklace, by the way.”

“Thanks.”

I’d decided to wear it again in hopes that Draven would show up so I could apologize for overreacting about the money. He could obviously afford everything he’d given me, and the idea that I might die young made me realize how much better my life could be if I did let myself enjoy it.

It was a busy night at the diner, and by the time the rush was over, I felt exhausted as usual. When my tables were all bussed, I took a quick bathroom break to stare at my necklace in the mirror. I knew it looked silly overtop my waitressing uniform, but I liked it.

Brenda crossed her arms and glared angrily at me when I stepped out of the bathroom.

“What?” I asked innocently, walking toward her.

“I’m clocking you out!” she snarled.

“What did I do? I was only gone a minute.”

Brenda’s hard face crumbled as she broke into a giggle. “No girl, I’m clocking you out,” she insisted, letting her eyes cross the restaurant to table sixteen.

I turned and smiled. “I owe you one,
again
.”

“Are you stalking me now?” I teased when I sat down across from him.

“Sometimes,” Draven replied easily.

“You’re mine tonight,” I said with a determined gaze.

He laughed, seemingly enjoying my attitude. “You want answers?”

“Lots and lots of answers.”

He nodded as if to concede to me. “Where shall we begin?”

“How did you get the necklace and the card into my room?”

“I put them there, of course.”

“When?”

“The necklace when you were sleeping and the card while you were in the shower.”

“You were physically in my room twice?” I squealed, surprised that he would actually admit it.

“Elizabeth,” he said calmly. “I just admitted to stalking you. Does it really surprise you that I was in your room?”

“Yes,” I confirmed, wide-eyed. The idea of a stranger being in my room terrified me but the idea of him in my room opened up so many possibilities that I found myself regretting not catching him in the act. I mentally kicked myself. Hormones were dangerous.

“Do I frighten you?” He appeared concerned.

I took a calming breath, trying to gauge my feelings. I was shocked that he confessed so easily but he didn’t scare me.
You’re in trouble, Elizabeth.
“Look, I may have overreacted about the money but just tell me why you’re doing all this? It’s beyond obsession, seriously.”

“You’re absolutely right. I’ve gone too far,” he said with an agreeing nod. Then he leaned in toward me, holding my eyes. “Do you want me to stop?”

I had no common sense while looking into his eyes, but I managed to keep my cool. Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I leaned inward. “What happened last night? I blacked out and woke up in my room.”

“You fainted, but you must understand my intention was not to upset you.”

“What was your intention, and how did I get into my room?”

“Must I keep repeating myself? Reassess, reevaluate.” He leaned forward, stressing the word, “Reconsider.”

I shook my head, not oblivious to that fact that he didn’t mention how I’d gotten into my room. I let it go, imagining that his answer would be “I put you there, of course.”

“I live in Seattle. I am not a psychic, nor a guardian angel. As for the kids in the underpass, I merely explained that their behavior was inappropriate. What I meant by ‘That’s why I’m here,’ when you thanked me for saving your life, was that I will always do everything I can to protect you. Alicia was not a relative of mine, but the necklace has remained…in my family since…her death.” His chocolaty eyes winced. “Yes, I had your story sent into the contest but you won on the basis of your own talent, I assure you. Congratulations.” He paused to nod before he continued, “I would never try to buy you. What’s mine is yours and will always be. You must accept these things I say.”

I nodded as I stared in awe, feeling like I’d learned more about him in the last five minutes than I had in the entire two weeks I’d known him. I felt his sincerity in every word. “I have more questions.”

“Those are all I can offer you right now.”

“Did…” I chewed on the word for a moment before I blurted, “Did you buy me a Barbie doll?”

“When you were five? Yes, The Swan Queen.”

I shook my head and threw up my hands. “This is crazy. How is that possible? How old are you?”

He ignored my questions. “All I’m asking is for you to reconsider your plan.”

I stiffened at the request, remembering his premonition. “Because I’m going to die in two years?” I whispered angrily.

“You’re taking things too seriously again. You look beautiful tonight, by the way.”

I’m taking my death sentence too seriously?

He nodded.

I squinted back. “I don’t like you.”

“Yes you do,” he said confidently. “You’re upset and you’re frustrated.”

Running my fingers through my hair, I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. One look into his dark brown eyes did the trick. They possessed the natural ability to calm me on a profound level. “If you’re not psychic or my guardian angel, what makes you think I only have two years left?”

He shook his head. “Someday, but will you now reconsider?”

Pouting like a child, I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Forgive me then, but I must go,” he said, sounding defeated. “I trust you’re driving home this evening?”

“Yeah, I borrowed my dad’s car.” I glanced at him, liking the fact that he appeared relieved.  

“May I give you something before I go?”

I didn’t answer but when he set a smaller jewelry box on the table, I frowned. “Let me guess. She knew how to love very deeply too?”

His brows pulled together and his head shook. “At times, but I’m afraid her mind was weak.” The emotion he put into his words made them seem almost painful to say.

“I might…hold it for you,” I offered, my mind drifting to other things, “but I never got to thank you properly for saving my life or for getting me home last night.”