She stood on the bridge, watching the
gondolas pass beneath her, still shaking with the fear that had gripped her
since the moment she felt Howie's hand on her neck. She rubbed her
neck, trying to shake the feeling of it on her skin. She could still feel
the power of his hand, power she had never felt before. It was a sunny day
in Venice and she tried to let the beauty of it calm her fears.
She wandered the winding streets,
listening to the hum of the city. Before she knew it, she was in the plaza
in front of St. Mark's basilica. The unknown presence she had felt
throughout Europe wasn't here today, and she felt exposed. Making
her way through the crowded plaza, she entered the cool interior, dipping her
fingers absentmindedly into the holy water and crossing herself, a habit picked
up from years of Catholic school. She immediately calmed and started
exploring. No corner was too small, no relic was too minor, she took it
all in. The farther she ventured inside, the thinner the crowds got.
Finally reaching a quiet corner, she stopped at a small stained glass panel
depicting a man and his family dated 1350. Her heart stopped when she saw
the man's face, recognizing it immediately. Clutching her chest, she ran
in a panic out of the basilica into the plaza, dodging tourists and vendors
until she reached a small park. She collapsed onto a bench until she
calmed down and caught her breath.
A few mother's and children were having a
picnic and she watched the children play a rousing game of tag. The
presence returned as she was sitting there and she welcomed it. She
knew in her heart whoever was watching her was also protecting her. By the
time she left the park, she had convinced herself that she was over-tired and
over-stressed, that her eyes had seen something that wasn't really there.
A stiff drink and a good night's sleep would cure all her ills.
The dreams came again that night. He
laid next to her, holding her in his arms. She could hear him whispering
to her...."I wouldn't have let him hurt you. I will keep you
safe."
"Why won't you let me see
you?" She was surprised that she had finally found her voice and that
he was able to hear her.
"You cannot see what you don't
understand. You just have to trust that I am always
there."
"You weren't there this
afternoon. You weren't there until I was in the
park."
"I came the minute I felt your
panic."
She snuggled closer to him, wrapping her
arms around him. "I guess
you'll just have to try a little harder next time." His laughter rang
in her ears and the dream faded away as she woke up, disappointed to be
alone. It took an hour for her to fall asleep again.