Half Life by Heather Atkinson Read Free Book Online Page A

not engulf me but neither does it ebb away and all I can do is watch while Kate shoos them both out of the house, a tigress seeing off two startled rabbits.  If this is to be the last of me then so be it.  At least I am blessed to see Kate at her most magnificent self.
    Then she is kneeling beside me and clutches my hand.
    “ Tom, can you hear me?  Are you alright? ”  
    Unfortunately I can ’ t speak but the worry in her eyes heartens me.  Perhaps she can forgive me for what I did earlier.
    “ Here, take my energy, ” she says.
    I feel the warmth flow from her into me, banishing some of the cold but it ’ s not enough.  I ’ m still lost in blackness.
    “ Oh please Tom try, ” she begs.
    Releasing me she runs around the room turning on all the appliances and lights.  Then she lies beside me and wraps herself around me, which is difficult as I am so insubstantial.  She hugs me tightly and her energy engulfs me, the strength returning to my limbs, light replacing the dark, warmth and life banishing the cold and that terrifying nothingness.  As I grow stronger she weakens and her eyes become heavy so I pull away from her slightly and concentrate on the electricity in the house instead.  Now she is unable to move I hold her in my arms and we remain locked together on the thick soft rug.
    “ I didn ’ t ask them to come here … I didn ’ t, ” she says weakly.
    “ I know.  You saved me, thank you, ” I say, brushing her forehead with my lips.  “ And I ’ m sorry for what I said earlier.  I didn ’ t mean it, I was stupid and jealous. ”
    “ I ’ m sorry too, ” she breathes before drifting off to sleep.
    I pick her up and carry her to the couch.  Once she is settled I turn off all the appliances and sit beside her while she sleeps, attempting to come to terms with what almost happened.  The memory of that frightening void will remain with me forever, of that I am quite certain.
    Kate wakes a couple of hours later and when she gives me that sweet smile I know all is forgiven and forgotten.
    “ How do you feel? ” I say.
    “ Never mind about me, what about you? ” she says, sitting up and taking my face in her hands.  “ Thank God you feel solid again.  When I came in you were hardly visible, it was so frightening.  What did that horrible woman do to you? ”
    “ I don ’ t know but it felt like she was obliterating my soul. ”
    She shivers.  “ The stupid cow, she doesn ’ t have a clue what she ’ s doing. ”
    “ People have tried to exorcise me before but its never had any effect.  They always spoke in Latin.  I didn ’ t recognise the language she used. ”
    “ It was an African dialect.  I couldn ’ t tell you what she was saying but I ’ ve spent enough time in that country to recognise it. ”   She looks angry again.  “ Who knows what damage she could cause and what she ’ s already done.  How many innocent souls has she destroyed?  She must be stopped and I ’ m going to do it. ”
    “ I ’ ve no doubt you will.  Kate I ’ m sorry I hurt you, I could see it in your eyes. ”
    “ It ’ s alright.  After what ’ s happened it seems so silly now. ”
    “ I ’ m very relieved. ”
    “ I don ’ t want you to go either.  I love you Tom. ”
    Once again this remarkable woman has amazed me.  No one has ever said those words to me before, not even my parents. 
    I grasp her hands ardently.  “ I love you too. ”
    As I utter this much longed for phrase the most curious sensation steals over me.  It is as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I feel lighter.  I feel free.  Sensing something behind me I turn and look to see a strange light glowing in the doorway leading into the kitchen.
    “ What ’ s that? ” says Kate.
    “ I think it ’ s the light. ”
    “ You mean, it ’ s time for you to leave? ”
    “ It would seem so, ” I reply. 
    I look back at Kate, her eyes wide with sadness, pure sadness.  I had thought when