What a day it had been.While on my way to Workshire country side, I bumped into Catherine.I saw her after a decade and recognized her at once as time must have stood frozen for her. It seemed she had not aged a day and looked amazingly young for her age. Before I could know, I had almost spent two hours chatting with her. I could have continued if it had not been for few appointments so we decided that we will meet after ten days. Now I am eagerly waiting for her visit to my place. This is what Anna was telling about her evening to her husband Victor. Victor Wishbow was a vicar in the church nearby.Victor did not heed much attention to the conversation but he knew that Anna was unstoppable.
A day passed and Anna started again with Catherine's talks. Now it was unavoidable for Victor. He asked her to at least have patience till the time her dear friend would be visiting them. Anna was kind of embarrassed with her obsession about Catherine. She just gave a little apologetic smile to him and continued with her chores.
Finally the day arrived. The dawn turned into dusk but not a sight of dear friend Catherine. Victor teased Anna about her excitement and a damp squib the day finally turned into. She blabbered few words about the uncouth behavior of her friend and wrapped up tasks and went to sleep.
She tried taking Catherine out of her mind but all in vain. There was this charisma about her which got Anna back to her time and again. Anna tried to recollect the two hour chat she had with Catherine. She could recollect the fleeting mention by Catherine of her residence. She told her husband that she would visit Catherine's place the next day.
After wrapping up chores the next day, she told Victor that she has to run errand and will be back soon. He let her go. He knew that Anna was definitely going for searching out her long lost friend. The moment Anna reached the place mentioned by Catherine. She was taken aback. A dilapidated colonial house, long unkempt grass in the lawn, cobwebs, creaking voices, graveyard near by were few things she could see. A perfect set up for a ghost story. This is what she thought when she crossed that dark street on that fateful day.
She was trying to gather herself but then came a loud sound from sky and she was stuck in a thunderstorm. Now with no option left, she took a shelter under tree. It was struck by a lightening bolt but Anna survived miraculously. Now it was getting difficult for her to stand. She thought of moving towards her home but it was not a nice option either.
Finally she heaved a sigh of relief because she caught glimpse of Catherine. She called out to her but Catherine seemed to be unaware. Anna decided to run after her. Anna was already out of her breath when she reached Catherine. The moment Catherine turned her face towards her , Anna could not believe her eyes. Catherine was looking like a wrinkled old lady, the far cry from what Anna had met few days before. The old lady understood Anna's predicament, she at once blurted out that she was Catherine's aunt and Catherine died years back.
The moment she said so, Anna could feel her heart stopping and she collapsed. The old lady checked Anna's pulse and ensured from every angle if she is alive or not. After checking, the old lady called
someone from the corner of street. That someone also checked Anna's pulse and gave old lady a smile and removed her make up.
Catherine and Victor went back hand in hand while Anna laid on the ground---- a victim of thunderstorm.
