Timeless Desire Read Online Free PDF Page B

He deserved to be released
from his miserable existence, to be freed.
    “I’ll be just here,” George said, quietly. “I’m not
going anywhere.”
    Then he pulled away abruptly and stood to one side,
leaving her path to the library clear. Telling herself that the sooner she went in, the sooner she could come out, Emily walked in.
She picked up the photograph of William that they’d left on the sofa and moved
across the room, returning it to its rightful place on the shelf. Then she made
her way back to the desk she’d abandoned earlier that evening and sat down.
    Then, knowing the longer she left it, the more
difficult it would be, Emily spoke. “William? Are you here?”
    She paused, scarcely daring to breathe. Nothing
happened.
    “It’s all right, William. I know it was you earlier. I
just panicked, that’s all. I’m sorry. I know you were just trying to
communicate with me. Will you communicate with me now?”
    As she fell silent once more, the hairs on the back of
Emily’s neck stood up again. This time, she was prepared for the slam of the
photograph and she didn’t jump when it came. She turned her head towards the
source of the noise and spoke again.
    “Hello, William. I’m glad you’re back. I’d like to talk
to you. I hope that’s okay.”
    At first, Emily noticed nothing. But after a couple of
beats, she spotted the ladder moving slightly, as though a weight had been put
on it. Somehow, Emily knew that William had sat down on one of the steps and
was listening to her.
    “Thank you, William.” Now it was time to give the
hardest part of her loosely planned speech. She took a deep breath and spoke
loudly, projecting fake confidence into her voice. “I guess you already know
that I was looking through some of your family’s belongings earlier?” She
deliberately didn’t mention George, not wanting to risk antagonizing the spirit,
considering how strongly he clearly still felt about Jane. He’d probably see it
as a betrayal, and who knew what a pissed off spirit could do? “Well I found
lots of interesting things, including a letter you sent to your parents before
you went to fight in the war. It had a photograph with it. Of
a girl. Of Jane. I was quite surprised to see
the photo. She looks just like me. The resemblance is uncanny, actually. I
suspect there may be a family link there, which means I’ve got more digging to
do. But that’s all it is, William. A link.”
    She spoke gently now, a part of her knowing she was
going to hurt William’s feelings and wanting to do it as pleasantly as she
possibly could. “I’m not Jane. You
know that, don’t you William? Deep down, you know I’m not really her, don’t
you? My name is Emily Stone and I was born in 1978. Many years after the war
you fought in.”
    She paused, hunching down in the chair slightly, as if
expecting something to come flying at her head. Nothing did. She pressed on.
    “You remember, don’t you, William? Jane died in London
during the war. She was killed during a German raid. I understand it affected
you terribly. It was a tragedy, and so was what happened to you. But do you
know what I think? I think you can be with her again. You just need to let go.
Let go of this place…of me. Jane will be waiting for you on the other side. I’m
sure of it. Just reach out and find her.”
    Emily suddenly realized that she had no idea if her
plan was working. With William’s photograph already flat on its back, he couldn’t
use that to communicate. But surely if he could move that and the ladder, he
could move anything?
    “Can you do that, William? Can you go and find Jane?
If you can…” she paused, thinking of a signal he could possibly give. Then her
gaze alighted on one of the cleaning brushes on the desk in front of her. “If
you can, William, move this brush for me, won’t you?”
    For a moment, Emily thought nothing would happen. Then
suddenly she sensed someone standing close by her. A few seconds passed. Then
the