Another Time by Jeffery Martin Botzenhart

Author:Jeffery Martin Botzenhart [Botzenhart, Jeffery Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Collection of Stories
Publisher: Luminosity Publishing LLP
Published: 2021-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

The restless few hours spent tossing and turning left Clarissa believing sleep had abandoned her to the night. Feeling the oppressive heated air disturbed by the rotating ceiling fan blades enhanced her discomfort while lying in bed. Though it was only the end of May, while not normally bothered by the heat she wondered how warm the coming summer would be. In truth, none of this was the reason she lay awake. Too many conflicting thoughts troubled her mind.

The notion to leave my parents and return to England may be my only escape. India is nothing as I imagined it would be. Father expressed his hopes for adventure here. Is this the adventure he envisioned? Since before making port, I have been haunted by the specter of a young dead woman. My mother is planning my future as the wife of an intolerable man who I can only see myself loathing and who also happens to be the former fiancé of the young dead woman. I am also confronted with the realization of a deep estrangement between my mother and father. We were once such a happy family. Was this simply a fallacy I had been blinded to? I feel as though I am holding my breath, hour by hour, waiting for another weight to be cast upon my heart.

When she rolled over, she looked toward the open French doors leading out to her private terrace. Brilliant shafts of moonlight flooded inside, illuminating the far side of the bedroom. Curious to look outside, Clarissa scooted out of bed and walked over to the open doors. The curtains held still in the breezeless night. The moonlight set her white flowing silk nightgown aglow, to allow her to appear like a lustrous translucent spirit.

Stepping out onto the terrace, the stone under her feet radiated considerable heat, as it had baked in the sun for hours. For now, it was tolerable. The pleasant fragrance of the garden flowers hung heavy in the still air. She gazed upon a large silvery moon positioned high amidst an endless array of glimmering stars. Seldom ever did she stay awake long enough to appreciate such a spectacle. So many nights wasted in missing such a sublime sight, she said to herself.

Alerted to movement below in the garden, she looked down over the edge. At first, she saw only the shadows of tree branches rendered over the grass. A moment later, a soldier stepped into view. He must be the night security. He walked a few steps into the open and stopped. He took off his helmet and pulled a cloth from his pocket to wipe his brow. He then fetched his canteen, holding it to his lips. He shook it for what she thought might be the last few drops of water. I wonder if he is lonely, keeping guard in the darkness by himself? He appears thirsty. Who would not be in this heat? I should offer him a cool drink.

Minutes later, she stepped out of the house.

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