The Statue

“Ceri,” the name came swirling past her ears, carried on the wind as she ran through the darkened cobbled streets. Her chest heaved, tight and sore from her frantic efforts.

I must get back. The thought beat through her with every rhythmic slap of her feet against the bricks. I can make it. She ran harder hoping, beyond reason, that the man chasing her would not reach her in time.

Past the darkened shops on the east end of the village, past the dim lanterns, she ran. Tears began to brim over her eyes and roll unheeded down her cheeks. She cried out, as her foot landed in a hole left by a missing brick and she fell to the ground her arms and hands scraping hard against the cobblestone street. She sucked in great gulps of air trying to catch her breath and pushed herself up again. Standing shakily, she glanced over her shoulder from where she had come and could see the faint outline of a man pushing towards her. Not stopping to brush the dirt and blood from her hands where she had fallen, she turned and ran mercilessly towards her destination.

To the square. She chanted the words to herself, willing them to bring the ancient fountain into view. A light appeared to her left, illuminating the inside of the little shop where they had met. She sobbed a little harder, the echoes of it bouncing down the small street like a ball dropped from the hand of a child. She couldn’t think of that now. Couldn’t re-live any of it, there would be time for that, so much time. She shook her head as she ran, breaking loose the memories and focusing herself to finish her race.

“Ceri”, it came to her again clearer now as his longer legs closed some of the distance between them.

“NO!” she sobbed, the word escaping her lips only to be thrown back in her face as she pushed herself forward. Her legs burned as she rounded the corner by the shuttered flower shop, but there up ahead the fountain beckoned.

“Ceri, stop!” Louder still the voice came to her, racing toward her on the wind as she ran. The tall clock tower began it’s nightly bellows, reminding everyone of the lateness of the hour. The first peal of the bell slammed into her as she felt her feet falter.

“NO!” She cried aloud, as if begging the clock to pull back it’s blackened arms and give her a reprieve. The second and third peal came from the offending sentry, standing tall and denying her the pardon, as she raced towards the square. Coming into the glow from the lamplight, she stopped short against the low wall of the ancient dusky, stone structure. Panting and gasping for air, she looked behind her and saw him round the corner. As he did, she clambered over the edge and splashed her feet into the cool still waters of the fountain. Cooper and silver wishes stuck to her feet as she hurried across the pool. Awkwardly, she lifted her leg to place her foot on the edge of the center platform and hefted herself up with all her might, landing splayed out on the dusty stones. Her ragged breaths sent ripples across the water through the small puddle at her cheek. She wrenched herself upright and took two steps towards the dais, as the clock tower pealed out again.

How many was that? How many are left? She made another step towards the center of the fountain.

“Ceri, what are you doing?” his voice echoed around the square and rested on her.

Not turning, she stepped onto the dais as a sob escaped her lips. Her shoulders slumped, auburn hair cascading around her face and she pulled her hand to her mouth to capture the sob.

“Ceri? I-I didn’t mean to scare you.” he stammered “I’ve never felt this before. I am like moth drawn to you and all of the words that I have been trying to piece together suddenly fit. All because of you, I need you to know how I feel and what you have done. How lost I am without you. Please tell me why you are running away?”

Taking a steading breath, she slowly turned to him and smiled a soft fleeting broken gesture filled with longing.

“I love you.” the words were a whisper across her lips.

Standing in the center of the fountain, she raised her hands out to him and whispered the words again to the night as a tear fell to her cheek. “I love you.”

“Ceri-” his next words caught in his throat, as he watched her change before his eyes. Like a silken sheet being draped over her and clinging to her form, she changed from Ceri, to the alabaster statue, arms raised out, that he had seen so many times before. The final toll of the bell rang out across the square.

Time stopped as he not dared not to move or breathe.

“Ceri?” he whispered.

Shaken, he moved, vaulting over the edge of the fountain, splashing through the water and climbed to the center, hefting himself up with ease. Cautiously, he walked around the the statue, inspecting it for something to explain what happened. Thinking it was some hoax or trick, he walked to the front of the statue and gazed at the face. Etched in stone, with all of the intricate details that he had caressed so softly only hours before, was her face. He reached his hand out, hesitantly, then caressed the soft smooth stone of her cheek, still damp from shed tears.

“Ceri?” he echoed his voice catching on her name. “Ceri, can you hear me?” Tears fell silently down his cheeks as he softly rubbed his thumb across her cheek. He bent down to look into her eyes, “Whatever this is, however I have to, no matter how long it takes…” his words trailed off. “I love you.” he finally whispered to her, pressing his lips to her cool forehead.

“You’re lying grandpa!” a little sing-song voice called out. “That is not what happened to grandma.”

“Are you filling their heads with stories again, dad? You should be ashamed of yourself!” Wen said folding a sweater as she came into the study. “It is bad enough that she left us. You do not have to make up stories about her being some magical creature. You tell this story every year on her birthday. I’d think you’d be tired of telling fairy tales after all this time.” she scoffed dismissing the story she had heard hundreds of times growing up.

“Enough magical stories for one day, go brush your teeth you two.” The kids, in turn, each reached up and planted kisses on their grandfather’s cheek as they scurried to do as thier mother said.

“You really should not fill their heads with your Irish fairy tales, dad.” Wen patted her father’s shoulder and kissed the top of his head. “You should get some sleep, you know where the lateness of the day takes you.”

After he heard Wen close her door for the night, he slipped out of his room and through the large French doors of the manor. Quietly, he walked through the opening of the hedge maze and down the path he knew by heart. There standing in the center of the maze was the fountain, it’s statue still reaching towards him.

“Ceri?” he called, the wind swirled and danced enveloping him.

“Love.” she replied.