Restless

With a sharp gasp, Gerard awoke in a cold sweat for the third night in a row. The nightmares seemed ceaseless, each one worse than the last. Tonight, his dream began on the cobblestone streets of Nottingham. The sound of rain pummeled against his ears, quickly followed by resentful roars of thunder. Gerard vainly covered his head with his coat to shield himself from the bone-piercing droplets of rain which fell from the gunmetal sky. Desperately seeking shelter from the elements, Gerard pounded a numbed fist against all nearby storefronts but to no avail. In the distance, a cathedral bell solemnly crooned three times. Gerard felt profoundly summoned by the voiceless song and quickly advanced north.

Upon reaching the front steps of the cathedral, Gerard wordlessly beheld the building before him. The stone of the cathedral seemed to reflect the perpetual grayness of the atmosphere. Raindrops dripped from the ornate arches as if the cathedral wept in solidarity with the clouds. Gerard furrowed his brows and momentarily considered what—or whom—they mourned. Then becoming increasingly aware of the water in his shoes, Gerard hastily entered inside.

The doors closed with a heavy shudder behind Gerard as he absorbed his surroundings. Pews collected a thin sheet of dust, clearly unoccupied by devotees for quite some time. Great Corinthian columns lined the perimeter of the cathedral; once, they dutifully decorated the beautiful place of worship, though now they provided nothing more than structural support. The massive rosette glass window above the altar also met a similar fate with a jagged crack split through the center which seemed to have lost its brilliance. In the midst of the gloom, a woman dressed in heavenly pearl quietly holding a withered bouquet stood before the altar. Gerard felt a rush of heat flit through his body.

“Excuse me, miss,” Gerard hesitantly called, though the woman did not turn around. The dripping from his sopping clothes echoed through the air. “M-may I accompany you?” The woman still did not react.

Fighting against the pit in his stomach, Gerard processed down the aisle. As he approached the figure closer, he realized the woman was slightly transpicuous. A barely audible gasp escaped Gerard.

“Elaine?” His mouth moved before his mind could stop him. 

Suddenly, a flash of lightning from behind the rosette momentarily blinded him. Gerard quickly brought his hands up to guard his eyes. When he wearily opened his eyelids, the woman vanished. In her stead, an open casket sat before the altar, presented uncannily similar to an offering. Against his conscience’s blaring alarm, curiosity compelled him to look inside. There, the woman who stood just moments earlier laid in perfect stillness, though Gerard could not bring himself to peer at her face. Gerard felt something deep within him shatter and fell to his knees. With a disarming flood of emotion, Gerard stained the marble floor with tears. With the sky and the cathedral, Gerard fulfilled the lamenting trinity.

Still slightly discombobulated from his dream, Gerard stumbled out of his bedroom and across the hallway. Hand on the guest bedroom’s doorknob, Gerard anxiously chewed the inside of his mouth. Though he knew the chances of Elaine being present were slim, a sliver of hope shimmered dimly in his chest. In one swift motion, Gerard pried open the door. Gerard sighed deeply—just as he anticipated. Feeling rather emotionally and mentally exhausted, he dragged his leaded legs back to bed. Before closing his eyes, he wondered where Elaine had gone with a heavy heart.