A Different Reflection (8 page)

“Well, I can't argue with that!” I smiled. “You still haven't managed that?” I asked, as I looked James. He held his head low.

“I know that my behaviour was unforgiveable, and my treatment of the women I had liaisons with unforgiveable also. I have had time to think about all of the things that I should have done, but did not. I have had time that no man ever chooses to have to reflect on my actions, and I can assure you that I am truly sorry. I have now convinced myself, however, that I do not deserve to be loved by any woman, nor I to love anyone in return after what I have done. My mother was right; she always said: ‘You can never love anyone until you let go of the sorrow in your heart and love yourself!' I was too busy blaming the world for the loss of my father and the loneliness of my mother, when all along I could have been the solution to a happier family, one in which my mother could have been proud of me. Trust me, when she died alone, and I could not reach her, I knew the error of my ways; but it was too late. I do not deserve a second chance!” he said with a tear in his eye.

“Well, speak for yourself!” George then said. “I want to grow old and relax and live a little, instead of watching your sorry face for eternity!” he smiled.

“Always one to bring me back down to earth George!” James replied.

I could easily see that they had a close relationship, albeit physically separated. George had almost become a second father to James, and I know that even though he did not say it, he was very grateful for his sincerity and commitment. I rubbed my face and finished my coffee and then realised I needed my bed.

“Alright, gentlemen, I really need some beauty sleep. It is four in the morning and I am exhausted. So we will talk more tomorrow at breakfast!” I announced as I stood. Both George and James stood too.

“You promise that you will not run during the night?” George asked.

“George, I think fainting is enough for one night. If I had wanted to run, I would've gone a long time ago. Besides, you have an alarm that is better than a guard dog watching my every move!” I joked as I gestured to James.

“I need sleep too!” he was quick to say.

George kissed me on the cheek and bid me goodnight, and as I turned and left the room, James also called goodnight. I held up my hand in the air without turning to acknowledge him. Maybe I would wake up tomorrow and this would all be a dream? I did laugh though as I walked away and I heard James ask George, “What the hell does she mean I'm like a guard dog?”

George simply replied, “Goodnight James.”

I woke and rubbed my eyes, knowing that it was later than I had expected to sleep. As I reflected on the conversation and revelations of last night, I sat up quickly and looked around, trying to convince myself it was a dream but knowing all too well that it was not. My biggest worry now was how I could do a piece for the magazine on this. I knew for a fact that I wasn't going to be able to print the truth. Firstly, I would have to make the whole world believe what I had experienced, and then secondly – if anyone did believe me – I was going to scare everyone to death with the notion that witches and magic exist! I sighed heavily and stretched, then climbed out of bed just as my phone vibrated on the dressing table. It was John calling me.

“Morning sleepy head, it's eight forty-five, I thought that you would be on the way back to the city now!” he enquired.

“No not yet. I didn't sleep too well!” I replied despondently.

“Why? What on earth happened?” John then asked, with a tone of worry. I perked up, trying not to let him in on any idea of something being wrong.

“Nothing. It thundered, there was lightning and it rained torrentially here last night and the combination kept me up!” I announced convincingly.

“Ah okay, I thought that something bad had happened,” he confirmed, but before I could reply he then asked the question I had been dreading: “so, did you get your story?” I closed my eyes and grimaced, trying to think quickly of an acceptable answer.

“Well, there is sort of a story, but I don't think that it's front-cover material. I may have to look elsewhere!” I told him.

“That's a shame, babe. Never mind, I told you he was probably a dead end and just a lonely old fool!” he commented harshly.

“Don't say that about George. I really like him!” I snapped.

“Okay, okay. Don't get so touchy, darling. I suggest you go and ask George for a cup of coffee – I think that you need one!” he then stated to my annoyance. “I will see you tonight then?” he asked.

“Yes, see you later on!” I replied, then quickly ended the call before I said something that I would really regret.

“You seem angry! Everything alright?” a familiar voice then asked. I turned to the large mirror at the end of my bed and there stood James.

“Fine!” I quickly replied as I looked down at my pyjamas and decided that I probably wasn't looking too great. He smiled at my obvious observation. “I'm not sure if this is appropriate, James, you know, you turning up in my bedroom unannounced. I mean, I could have been undressing or something!” I informed him. He quickly realised that he had made it very awkward for me.

“Why, of course. I do apologise, Katharina. I simply came to tell you that breakfast is ready if you want to join us?” he kindly asked, as he made an attempt to turn away from me in my nightclothes. It made me smile; it wasn't like I was indecently dressed, and he had seen me the night before, but I was simply worried about him appearing whilst I had significantly less on… I felt that would be a shock to both him and me! “Please do not dress on my account. Nightclothes are acceptable; God knows George is still in his!” he then joked. “I will see you downstairs!” he ended as he marched away from the mirror and toward the door from my room. This was such a bizarre thing to get my head around.

“Thank you!” I called. “I will be there in a minute.”

I quickly paid a call to the bathroom, splashed some water on my face and then brushed my teeth, before slipping on my robe and going to find George. Work was not expecting me back until after lunchtime, so I took the opportunity to quiz them some more. “Good morning Katharina, how did you sleep?” George asked as I sat at the island in his apartment.

“Is that before or after the fainting and realising that I am involved in a modern-day fairy tale that involves magic, witches and a young man trapped within a mirror?” I sarcastically replied.

“Point taken!” George nodded as he passed me a mug of coffee and a plate of freshly-made fluffy American pancakes. The smell was divine, and I knew that I was going to enjoy them immensely.

“Thank you!” I replied as I took a spoon to the thick syrup that was in front of me.

I was halfway through one pancake when I realised that they were both staring at me. I hadn't spoken between mouthfuls, so I slowed and looked at them. “I have a really good appetite!”

“You keep eating, I will keep making!” George smiled. “So now that you have had time to digest our situation a little, how do you feel about it? Is there anything further that you want ask?” he prompted.

“Well, I am sure that there will be a thousand questions and that things will keep springing to mind. One thing that I did think of; you can obviously see the main door in the entrance reflected in the mirrors, so why don't you just walk out of it? Is there not a place to go to outside of the house? Would that not release you?” I finished as I pulled another mouthful of pancake off my fork.

“I've tried. Believe me – windows
and
doors. If I get too near to them or try to step through them, I get the strongest burning sensation, like I am about to burst into flames! It really isn't pleasant and so not an option, but it has been considered many times!” James replied. I nodded.

“How about finding another witch to break the spell? They cannot all be bad!” I then stated.

“Ah, we enquired about that. Unfortunately a spell of this calibre cast by one witch cannot be broken by another! It is bound to the witch that makes the spell!” James confirmed.

“So, when she died, why did that not break the spell?” I asked as I kept eating.

“Well, we think that as the spell was cast with her giving two options – one being her words alone to break the spell, or a woman's words that may have learned to love me – neither has happened, and so I am stuck here for eternity it seems!” James stated sadly.

“Never give up! That's a ridiculous attitude!” I replied.

“She's right!” George replied.

“Does no one ever seem slightly sorry for my situation?” James asked, looking at the two of us.

“Well, in fairness you got yourself into this situation!” I smiled as I carried on eating. I looked at George, who smiled, then winked at me and my remark.

“Oh this is just great, now I have two of you to keep happy, and I have to listen to your sarcasm!” James sighed. He stood and walked a little bit away. I had a small feeling of guilt.

“Hey, I'm sorry – it really must be the worst torture. To think that you have had to live for so long watching people come and go, and especially loved ones… it is actually very sad,” I then stated as I looked at James.

“The worst torture ever!” George then expressed as he excused himself for a moment. I looked toward James and gave him an inquisitive look.

“George had a wife and a son. He had to watch them live and grow older, as we stayed stuck in this predicament,” he gestured to his appearance. I raised my hand to my mouth.

“So he experienced them passing him in age – and eventually their demise?”

“Indeed! His son did marry and had children of his own, but how do you explain to children as they grow a situation such as ours?” he said as he sat. “He made a choice after speaking with his son to never see him again, once he realised the pain it would cause at a later date to have to let him go – and his own grandchildren. He managed to keep getting updates on how his son's family were doing, but as you can imagine it was tough. It was not an easy decision, I assure you, and I am to blame!”

“I am sure that you feel guilty about his grief, but from what you have both told me, George made the decision to be with you. He must have realised in some small way the consequences of that decision?”

“It does not make light of the matter though, Katharina. He sacrificed everything for me. I look to him as a son would to a father. I would not have survived these many years without him!” James then stated sincerely.

“Have you told him that recently?” I enquired. “I think that he would like to hear that!” James nodded.

“I never seem to have found the right time!” James put his head into his hands.

“Jeeze, you've only had over 200 years!” I sarcastically replied as I ate another delicious mouthful of pancake. I smiled at him, as a gesture that I understood him.

“Point taken!” he replied as George returned to the room.

“George, this breakfast is to die for. I haven't eaten this much – or anything this high in calories – for ages. It's heaven!”

“Another?” he asked of me, but I had to hold my hand up in defeat.

“I need to shower and dress, then come to a decision with you before I leave about this story!” I concluded as I finished the last mouthful of coffee. “I simply do not think that the world is ready for this type of truth, believable or not!” I stood and turned to leave.

“Do you think that you will visit us again?” James then asked.

“Are you kidding me? Of course I will be back. I want to hear as much of what you have experienced over these years as possible!” I excitedly replied. I turned to find them both smiling at one another. “Oh, and for the record, your secret is safe with me – unless it's a matter of life or death that I have to tell someone!” I smiled at them both and went up the stairs with a spring in my step.

Showering was slightly worrying; I found myself trying to cover all the mirrors and anything I could find that was reflective with towels and facecloths. It was strange; if I wanted to look at my own reflection, I simply thought about that, and it was like any other everyday mirror. If I wanted to see James, I simply thought about him and there he was! Was it this simple for everyone? George had stated not; maybe because they were not open to believing such things, or pure of heart.
Pure of heart,
I smiled to myself;
my mum would love that.
I sounded like Snow White, or some other fairy tale character. These thoughts made me think about the fact that some fairy tales could be based on fact, as George had said: handsome princes and damsels in distress were a lovely thought, but wicked witches and evil stepmothers and magic? I shook my head in disbelief. “This is crazy!” I muttered to myself.

Once dressed, I returned downstairs. I left my bags in the entrance and returned to George's kitchen with my notepad. James and George were both talking and I smiled as I realised that even though the reality was very different, they were like two ordinary people discussing everyday things. I perched on a stool and George handed me another coffee. “Feeling better?” he asked.

“I think that this will take some getting used to, but I'm not running, and I think I am starting to get my head around this a little better!” I gestured to the three of us. “It's what I am going to tell my editor and John that has me worrying a little. I thought this was going to be my big story – and believe me, it's big! – but I don't think it is front-page news for the present; I would get laughed out of my job if I tried to explain this! I need another story to deter people from you whilst we sort something out!” George looked at me as I finished.

“What do you mean, ‘whilst we sort something'?” he asked.

“Well, I can hardly walk away now, can I? I'm a big believer in fate, George, and something made me want to meet you. I am going to have to help you now. At least I can feel satisfied that I have done one really good deed for someone else in my life!” I sipped my coffee. “Well, that is if you do not mind me spending time with you both whilst we find someone for you, James?” I then enquired.

“No, no we don't mind at all, do we James?” George quickly stated.

“I have no reservations in you visiting us more regularly, Katharina, but I am not sure what you can do to help!” James answered with an air of authority.

“Well I can try!” I smiled as I sipped the coffee in front of me.

“That is very kind of you,” George replied as he looked at James and nodded for his approval.

“Indeed, very kind! Although I am at a loss as to why you would want to!” he confirmed.

“You really don't think that there are any good people, do you? I think that you have had plenty of time to see the error of your ways, and you now believe that people have become too bitter to see the real you! Trust me, some of us do still want the better things in life and are actually nice people too. I can understand that you feel guilty and hurt and it must have been torture for both of you to lose everyone around you, but I think that it is time that we try and end this for the both of you, don't you?”

“Agreed!” George quickly stated as he looked at James.

“Unless you would rather stay this way?” I then sarcastically commented as I looked toward the mirror at him. James shook his head, indicating that he was not happy with the current situation either.

“Agreed!” he quietly announced.

“Great. That's sorted, then! Now I need to find another story to deter everyone from this one! It's going to make my editor very suspicious, so I may have to make something up about you, George, to get her to agree to move on to something else.”

“Something like what?” he asked, sounding worried. I laughed at his remark.

“This could be fun!” James suddenly stated, rubbing his hands together.

“Don't worry, I promise not to be too harsh!” I smiled as I winked at James, who noted my air of playfulness.

“I really must be getting to work! I will be back soon though!” I stated. I checked that George had my number, and I told them both that I would call soon to arrange another visit.

So, with my bag packed, I decided to tell my editor that George was a little deluded and had not lived there for that long, but was the best friend of the previous owner who wanted him to be well looked after once he had departed this world. I hoped that it would be enough for my editor to leave the story for something that would be far more appropriate for the centre magazine spread. It may be a little harder trying to explain why I keep visiting the place, but I would make that up as I go along! More than anything, I hoped that like fairy tales written from the past, this story would become something similar that would be talked about in years to come. I felt like I was on the verge of discovering something life-changing; I was so excited about the whole prospect of what I had been witness to the last couple of days. I still found it hard to feel that it was the truth; it just seemed so much like a dream. It was going to be strange getting used to what I would find out from them every time I saw them.