May love be yours for now and forever

Anna and I remember some life events that caused us to move leaving behind priceless memories. We miss Nikki and remember her fondly with a champagne toast. It’s been almost five years, but the memories live on. Although built in 1690, the beautiful bungalow where we resided was fairly well repaired and restored. It is a ghost town now almost in ruins. It was a huge property and there were times when all the teachers had left and only the three of us were left wandering around the property. We often peeked inside the chapel which was always dark, dusty benches, chairs, tables and cobwebs. Some pictures hung on the wall. We felt it was pretty safe; after all it was the house of God. There was a long passage connecting the headmaster’s bungalow to the chapel that looked a bit sinister.

The three of us enjoyed drinking coffee at the round table we brought out from the chapel, chatting and joking almost every day. The footsteps of a man in tap shoes on the first day captivated us. He was audible, intelligent, and it sounded like he was coming right at us, and then he slowly faded away. We began to get acquainted with him, there was nothing serious about it. We found it funny when Nikki said one day that she missed the echo of footsteps. She whistled and after a second or two the sound was audible. We were in smiles. Maybe we had coffee with the ‘tap dancer’ every day, a regular routine. Sometimes when Nikki missed him, she would stroll down the hall that led to the chapel that was never closed.

One Sunday afternoon we informed our aunt. She laughed about it, but the other teachers took it to heart, having witnessed unexplained noises at some point in her or each other’s lives. It was a mystery unless one day Nikki shared her experience with us. It was a dark and stormy night, total darkness began to rain. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed across the sky. At night, she was asleep in her bed when she suddenly felt a small pressure on her right leg just below the knee. She ignored him for a moment, but then her eyes slowly opened. Despite her creepy feeling, she was thrilled to see a very handsome man sitting with his head bowed on the edge of her bed. His wide-brimmed black felt hat stood right next to him on the right side. He was sitting with his hands crossed and his eyes closed. Maybe he was praying. He was so handsome that she wanted to make eye contact, but she blinked and he was gone.

Nikki always said it was beautiful to fall in love with him but it wasn’t easy. We tried to stop her but no, she wasn’t listening to anyone. She slowly went crazy, completely off the rails. She was so mesmerized by him that maybe when he took her hand she just followed. The night guard would often see Nikki walking to the Chapel at night. He would complain and older people would warn Nikki. One night the guard couldn’t take it anymore. When he saw Nikki walking slowly towards the chapel again, he woke up the other teachers. Some of them followed her. He watched her move toward the chapel down the hall. They froze in fear when lightning struck and they could see the chapel full of seated people. Some on their knees and others simply with their heads bowed down. They could sense ghosts and ran down the hall to their rooms. In the morning, Nikki was found dead in the Chapel near the altar.

We don’t blame the ghost tap dancer, she had a crush on him. On silent nights, when the full moon howls, we keep a close watch. His fire does not go out, the burning does not stop. They cannot hide their love from him. Even today they wait for the world to slowly darken, it seems they still exist in the life they turned their backs on. Their emotions implode as they ignite with desperate desires. As they float in romance we stand still and freeze. We slowly close the door, the windows and draw the curtains. It’s scary to hear Nikki whistle, it’s painful to know that she needs our company. As the days go by, the whistles get louder and Nikki’s presence feels bolder. We finally decided to vacate the place. With a heavy heart we left the premises. Our tears fall like drops of morning dew running down the leaves. With the sun bursting stronger and stronger we leave never to return.