Chapter 15 - The Ghost in the Flesh
Julian stopped breathing,
his eyes locked onto the woman standing before him,
the woman he had wept over,
the woman he had buried in an empty grave.
"Clara..."
he whispered,
the name tasting like a prayer on his lips,
his eyes filling with fresh tears.
Clara looked at him,
a soft,
sad smile appearing on her pale face,
her eyes reflecting the same deep love she had always held for him.
"Julian,"
she said softly,
her voice weak,
yet incredibly sweet,
"You came."
Julian rushed forward,
closing the distance between them,
throwing his arms around her fragile frame,
holding her as if she might disappear if he let go.
He buried his face in her hair,
sobbing uncontrollably,
feeling the steady beat of her heart against his chest.
"You're alive,"
he cried,
"How are you alive?"
"They told me you died in the river,"
"they showed me the medical reports,"
"they forced me to let you go."
Clara held him tightly,
her tears wetting his tuxedo jacket,
"It was all a lie,
Julian,"
May you like
"a terrible,
cruel lie."
