Colin’s favourite painting was ‘Night and Wheat Field with Cypresses’. The painting reminded Colin of happy childhood memories that he sometimes remembered.
“Linda, these remind me of simple things that look amazing to me. Like the beautiful rays of sunlight as it lights up the vivid green leaves in a tree. The blanket of starlight that covers the fields of grass that you can see out in the country where there are only a few lights – just like in this picture…… Starry Night. I remember from being in the scouts.”
Linda said “my father’s country home in England looks like what you just mentioned Colin. I know exactly what you mean.”
She smiled at him whimsically. He sometimes felt like that recently, since meeting The Protector. Things weren’t so mundane anymore. He was sometimes amazed at the beauty in very simple things.
Time didn’t seem to exist on this day for Colin and Linda. Time seemed somehow elastic. Time seemed not to apply to them at all as they walked through the rooms mesmerised by the paintings.
They sat in the in the museum. Colin looked troubled, as if a cloud was covering the sun. His brow was beginning to wrinkle and he was quiet.
Linda looked towards him, concerned. “What is it Colin, you look a bit troubled?”
Colin said “I told you about what happened in the European Union building. But I didn’t tell you everything.”
Colin spoke in a low, hushed voice and released the burden of his secret.
“Linda I felt something then, or even heard something. I heard a voice that gave me clear directions how to get out of there, I was in serious danger. He defended me and my two friends and I don’t think he was of this world. I followed his advice and we were all right. But I think he calmed us down afterwards too. I told you that we nearly got mugged that time and the same thing happened. I was given what I considered to be crazy advice but I did it and my friends and I were fine at the end of it. Linda, I haven`t said this to anyone except you. What do you think?”
Grey clouds were rolling across the sky, covering the sun as they looked out the window, like a storm was threatening.
Linda drummed her fingers on the table and she lifted her teacup slowly to her mouth. She flicked her hair over her shoulder. She sat upright, her fingers on the table pointed and moving slightly as if she had a pen and writing notes, falling into her role as a clinical psychologist. She sat silently in deep contemplation. Suddenly Linda spoke.
“Colin, this thing….. this being….. this ‘he’……. he tells you only things that help in a positive way?”
Colin said “well, kind of, he helps when I am in trouble. He calms me when I am stressed.”
Linda said “ok, well at least this voice, as you call it, is a positive influence. Why do you think it’s real?”
Colin said, with hope in his eyes that Linda would understand, “I don’t have proof.”
Linda said, in a dictatorial voice, “Colin, thanks for sharing this with me and thanks for your trust. This being is not real. There are patients of mine who experience what are called hallucinations. They hear, see or feel things that aren’t there. This results almost invariably in the person being medicated with drugs or put in a psychiatric hospital or, God help us, E.C.T can be administered.”
Colin said in a worried tone, leaning closer to Linda and almost whispering. “so you think this is nutty talk?”
“In my profession, we don’t use words like ‘nutty’, Colin.”
Colin felt that Linda’s tone was very different than the funny, sexy Linda that Colin knew. She was talking like his counsellor used to talk to him.
“Colin, your way of travelling is difficult…… very long journeys on trains and living in hostels with people you don’t know…….. so you can be under stress.”
“Right so you think I`m crazy?!”
Linda’s voice became more firm. “Colin, you know how much I care for you. I would advise you not to say this to anyone even if you think they will understand because, most likely, people won’t. I’m speaking from experience – many of my patients imagine things.”
Colin stared at the table and looked disappointed.
“Well ok, I’m sorry I mentioned it.”
Linda stepped out of her role of clinical psychologist, reached out for Colin’s hand and gently cupped his hand in hers. They held hands across the table. Linda felt cruel for advising Colin this way but she felt it was necessary advice.
Colin straightened up and looked Linda in the eye. He saw concern in her face. He knew she was trying to help.
“Right Linda, ye know I feel much better even just talking about it, you’re a good therapist, love. Yes I think you are right, now that I think about it. Thanks for listening to me.”
Linda noticed that it was as if a light had gone out in Colin’s eyes and he looked disappointed…… as if he wanted to talk more about something very dear to him.
“Colin, you can talk to me about this again if you wish. I’m just warning you not to tell people in general.”
Colin smiled. “Thanks Linda, yeah, thanks. It felt good saying it to ye any way. I will take you up on your offer!”
Linda smiled. “Well Col, that’s my job!” Linda giggled a little and rose up from the table. “Now let’s do something fun!!”
On release on 10th May Visit: gabrielwoods777.blogspot.com for more information
Gabriel Woods Thoughts About Our World 