Chapter 7
Memories and Regrets
The next morning Craig and Embry went Christmas shopping. They were up to something, I could practically smell it.
After breakfast mum went to work. It was just Jo and I.
'So why?'
'Why what?'
'Why did you leave?'
'I had to. You know what I did. I had to get away.'
'Chase the dream.'
'Never the magic.' I grinned at her. She looked sad.
'When you go back…'
'Our doors are always open to you.'
'Good, I don't know how much more of mum I can stand. She's trying to mold me into… well you know…'
'Iggy?'
'Yes.'
'Oh no.'
'I might visit some time soon then.'
'I'll keep a bed ready.'
I took Link for a walk. We went to Lochardil woods. Tiny as it is it was a like being in my own world. It was so peaceful.
Then it happened.
Memory after memory bombarded me at once. Everything I had blocked from my mind the past year flooded back. Children's laughter filled my head, conversations and, loudest of all, a song. Sung in a million different ways by three distinct voices.
I looked up at the tree tops. I saw the singing girls sitting in them. I watched them skip through the bushes. Then they came right form me on their bikes. I screamed.
They passed right through me.
Link was whining at me. I had forgotten him. One of the girls walked right up to me and sang.
'Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time.' I collapsed and Link howled. He had felt something too. The pain was overwhelming.
'Cat?' somebody yelled. I knew the voice.
'Phone an Ambulance and get her a blanket.' I opened my eyes. It was Helen, Aids mum.
'Don't. I'm fine.'
'Hun we want you looked at. You'll have caught a death out here.' and sure enough as I sat up I saw the ground was covered in snow.
'Link got us. He was trained well.'
'That was why we bought him.' Aid returned with a blanket. He picked me up.
'It's ok, there's an Ambulance on the way.' that did it.
'NO.' I screamed, thrashing at him, Link thought he was hurting me so he bit Aid's leg.
'I'M NOT GOING TO HOSPITAL. DON'T MAKE ME GO BACK THERE.' I was shaking uncontrollably. I was going to phase, crap.
'CATHY!' oh thank the lord, my guardian angel was back. Embry took me from Aid, grabbed Link and ran.
We got to a dark part of the woods to calm me down. I tried to tell Embry what had happened but he didn't get it.
'Are you trying to tell me you were harassed by ghosts?' he thought I was mad. I hated that.
'Please, just trust me. Don't tell anyone. They weren't ghosts they were memories.' I begged him.
'Will you explain fully when you are ready?' His eyes were full of worry.
'Yes, every time I've acted weird there has been a connection. It's not lots of little problems it's one big one.'
'I think this holiday was one big mistake.'
'No, it wasn't. I need closure.' I said clearly, stopping the shaking for a moment. It was the first time I had admitted it to myself.
'I can live with that.'
'Good. Because I don't think I can.'
