- On the morning of December 21 , I went down to the kitchen and, despite
- my head spinning, my eyes glassy and a severe hangover, I try to make coffee and prepare my breakfast, so that Sabine goes to work with a clear conscience, and I can go back to my room to dive again in my liquid vapors.
- The minute I hear his car pull out of the driveway, I kick
- my cereal in the trash and goes back to my room. I retrieve the bottle hidden under my bed and open it, impatient to feel the warm flow which will soon soothe me from the inside, numb the pain, relieve my Anxieties and my fears, until nothing is left. remains.
- But, for some obscure reason, I can’t take my eyes off the calendar hanging above my desk. The date jumps out at me, as if to tell me something. I’ll take a closer look, but the day box is empty, not
- no obligations, no dates, no birthdays, nothing. Just the words “winter solstice” written in tiny black letters,
- as if this date had any importance for the publisher
- of the calendar, while for me it means absolutely nothing.
- I lie back down, my head propped up on a pile of pillows, and absorb
- a long sip of alcohol, eyes closed to better enjoy the wonderful heat that runs through my veins and reassures me
- the soul and the body – as Damen achieved with a single glance. I take another sip, then another, too quickly,
- despite the training I put myself through. But now
- that I awakened his memory, I can’t wait to make him disappear again. So I continue to drink in long, greedy gulps, until he
- evaporates and I can finally relax.
- When I wake up, I am overflowing with love, an infinite love that warms and consoles me. It looks like a ray of golden sunshine
- envelops me, and I feel so good, happy, peaceful that I would like to stay there forever. I squeeze my eyelids to hold on to this moment, determined to hold on to it with all my strength. Suddenly, something tickles my nose, an almost imperceptible caress, and immediately I open my eyes and jump out of bed.
- Hand on my heart, which is beating wildly, I discover a black feather placed on my pillow.
- The one I wore the night I dressed up as Marie Antoinette.
- The one that Damen had kept as a souvenir. I then understand that he was here.
- I check the alarm clock, unable to believe I was able to sleep this long. Turning my head, I realize that the painting
- stored in the trunk of my car is now leaning against
- the wall, as if to taunt me. With the difference that the portrait of a young, pale, blonde girl running in a dark canyon,
- drowned in the mist, replaced the reproduction of the Woman with Yellow Hair, the work of Damen.
- The canyon of my dream.
- Then, moved by a sudden inspiration, I grab my coat,
- put on a pair of flip-flops, rushed into Sabine’s room to get my car keys, which she had hidden in a drawer, and took the stairs two steps at a time to the garage, without knowing where
- I’m going or why. One thing is for sure, I have to go to a place that I will recognize once I get there.
- I take the Northern Highway towards Laguna Centre. I get out of the usual traffic jams at Main Beach, then turn onto Broadway, avoiding pedestrians. Once out of
- clutter, I press the button and let my instinct
- guiding me for a few kilometers before tailgating a car and parking in the nature park parking lot. After which I pick up my keys, my cell phone and set off towards the hiking trail.
- The patches of fog slow my progress. But
- even if reason dictates that I turn around and go back home
- home, because it’s madness to wander here alone in the dark, I can’t stop, a mysterious force pushes me to continue, like
- if my feet moved on their own and I had no choice but to follow them.
- I shove my hands in my pockets to protect myself from the cold and stumble forward, blindly, with no destination in mind.
- head. Once again, I will know I have reached my destination when I arrive.
- I hit my big toe on a stone and sprawled on the ground, screaming in pain. The moment I put a mute on,
- I hear my phone ring and get up as best I can, out of breath.
- Yes ?
- Is this how you answer the phone now? It’s not very s*xy, if you ask me!
I brush off my clothes and continue on my way, being careful this time.
- Ah, hello Miles. How are you ?
- I wanted to tell you that you’re having a hell of a night. And given your recent taste for partying, I thought I’d invite you. But don’t have too many illusions, it’s more fun than anything else. You have to see it to believe it ! Hundreds of
Goths abound in the canyon, it looks like a Dracula conference or something like that.
- Is Haven with you?
My stomach tightens when I say his name.
- Yes, she’s looking for Drina. You remember the great event
top secret? Well, that’s it. She doesn’t know how to keep a secret, this girl, even when it’s hers.
- I thought Haven was no longer in its gothic phase?
- She too, imagine! She is pissed off at not being dressed like everyone else.
I reach the top of a ridge where the valley flooded with light spreads out at my feet.
- You’re in a canyon, right?
- Yes.
- I’m coming too, I said as I began the descent.
- You are already there ?
- Yes, I’m heading towards the light, as they say.
- And you went through the tunnel first? Ha! Ha! Do you get the trick? But actually, did you know?
So there you have it, a black feather tickled my nose and drew fumes of drunkenness, and then I found a strangely strange painting
prophetic turned against the wall of my room. So I did what any foolish person would have done in my place, I put on my coat and flip-flops, and went out in my nightgown!
Certainly not being able to tell him the truth, I prefer to remain silent. Which, of course, arouses his curiosity.
- Did Haven warn you? he squeaks. Because she got me
I swore he only told me. Well, I don’t want to offend you, but still…
- No, Miles, I swear she didn’t tell me anything. I learned it by chance. Well, I’m almost there, see you right away… well, as long as I don’t get lost in the fog.
- What fog? There is no…
But he doesn’t have time to finish his sentence which is torn from me
the phone.
- Hello, Ever! says Drina, looking happy. I told you we’d meet again.
