Wherever we go
Silence will fall like dews
On white silence below.
We shall walk in the snow.
—Elinor Wylie
After the heating and cooling serviceman left, I felt exhausted.
I wasn't sure how long I had been exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning, but it was a relief to find out what was making me sick and make arrangements to remedy the situation.
But the most important consolation was discovering The Shadows, my family home, wasn't haunted by spirits at all.
It turns out, the apparitions I witnessed were really hallucinations brought on by oxygen deprivation.
I glanced at the clock and realized I had about six hours before Vicky was due to show up for supper.
I decided to take a nap and set an alarm on my cell phone to wake me with time to spare to shower and get ready for her visit.
I lit a fire in the fireplace and stretched out on the sofa in the den and within minutes was fast asleep.
To sleep, perhaps to dream, Shakespeare says...
With me, my dreams usually involve women and in that sense, this nap was no different—but this time instead of sleep turning into a nightmare, it became an afternoon delight.
I dreamt of Vicky and walking with her in the snow through the woods near my home. It was pleasant and romantic dream that was a welcome change from the demonic night terrors I associated with Marianne.
When I awoke, it was just beginning to get dark and I stretched out deliciously, enjoying serenity of not being pursued by an enemy.
It was the first time in a long time I felt totally rested and refreshed and realized Vicky did that for me by taking care of small things like the maintenance contracts that turned out to make a major difference in my life.
I got up made coffee and peered outside and saw to my surprise discovered it actually had snowed while I was sleeping.
Maybe the dream about walking in snow was prophetic.
When Vicky arrived, the sun was just setting and it was a perfect and tranquil end to the day.
I told her about my dream and she immediately wanted to go for a walk while the western sky was ablaze with sullen beauty.
I delayed ordering the pizza and we set out hand in hand for out trek through the woods.
I also told her what Adrian the furnace technician had said about the faulty gas appliances causing hallucinations, and like me, she was relieved.
"It wasn't not so much the fear of exorcism that upset me," she laughed, "it was more the prospect of having to compete with a witchy woman who would have a grudge against me."
"I don't know why," I smiled, "you've already completely bewitched me."
Being surrounded by white beauty walking on the trail, inspired me. I envisioned Vicky in a white dress walking down an aisle, both of us emerging from the shadows of the past and entering a promising new world.