Twisted Roads – Twisted Horror Stories by Matthew Tonks

Living

“What? No, I won’t be long, I’ve just got to do one last thing, and then we can go. I love you too,” he says as he hangs up the phone. He looks out of the car window, biting his bottom lip, staring at the rusted gates that lead into Pine Crest Cemetery. He sucks in a deep breath, grabs the single black rose that sits on the passenger seat, and quickly opens the door, stepping out into the cold night air. The wind blows through the small graveyard, screaming, calling. His ears prick up, his eyes widen in fear, and he takes a step backwards, leaning against the car.

“Get your shit together, Duncan. It’s your imagination playing tricks on you. It was the wind, nothing else. It wasn’t her. So stop being an idiot and just get it over with,” he says to himself as he clears his throat and takes a step forward. He heads through the gates, along a path, and after a few nervous minutes, he comes to a stop, turning to face an overgrown gravesite.

He closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. “Sorry, it’s been a while, I know. But a lot of things have happened, are still happening, and I wanted to come and say, well, goodbye,” he says, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping the sweat from his brow. “I-I-I don’t know why it took me so long to come and see you. I meant to so many times. I’ve driven past, but I haven’t been able to stop, I haven’t wanted to. I-I-I just, I don’t know.”

He places the rose on the headstone and takes a few steps backwards. It’s then that he feels the cold breeze rip into him. He clenches his teeth, clenches his fists, takes a deep breath, and slowly turns around to face her, how sad she looks.

“I won’t do it. I’m not ready. I’m not done living!”

“Duncan,” she says softly, reaching a hand out towards him.

“Please, Bianca, let me go. I can’t do this. I know I promised. But I’ve found someone else, someone new, who makes me happy, like you did back in the beginning.”

“I know. I’m always with you, Duncan, always watching over your shoulder. I’ve seen your happiness,” she says.

“Then why this? Why?”

“Why? Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? Why do we die, if not to live first?”

“I-I-I don’t understand what you mean. I just want you to leave me alone, let me live my life. I don’t want it to end, not now.”

“Then why make a promise that you refuse to keep?”

“I… I never meant to break it. I never wanted to not be with you, but I can’t, not anymore.”

“Then do what you must,” she says, lowering her arm. For several silent moments, they both stand there, staring into each other’s eyes.

“I’ll always love you, you know that?”

“Are you telling me that, or trying to convince yourself?” she says as she drifts off into the night air like smoke, disappearing, and leaving him alone once more. He turns back to the headstone.

“I-I guess that’s why I’m here,” he says, wiping away his tears. He raises two fingers, kisses them, and places them on top of the headstone. “I will always love you,” he says as he turns away and walks back down the path to the gate, then climbs into his car. The engine starts with a thunderous roar, and within seconds, he’s back on the highway. His phone screeches to life, and he fumbles with it for a few moments before finally answering.

“Yup, on my way now. Twenty minutes or so. Okay, I’ll see you then. Love you,” he says, tossing the phone on the passenger seat and smiling. He looks into the rear-view mirror and catches sight of her sitting in the back seat.

“I love you too,” Bianca says as the car veers off the road, slamming violently into a tree.