Page 55 of Only You
‘No. He—’Died in a fire trying to save me. She frowned, looking down at her lap. ‘He would never put me in harm’s way.’
‘Does he have habits you’re concerned about?’
‘No.’
‘Is he in a relationship?’
‘No.’
‘So, what makes you so sure that your life will “end as you know it”?’
‘Because it’s happened before. I’ve fallen in love with people, and it didn’t work out and there were consequences for it.’ The answer begged for further explanation, but Dani was already toeing the line and she didn’t know how much more she could say without lying or creeping too close to the truth.
‘And yet, all these… consequences led you here,’ Dr Castillo pointed out. ‘You have friends, hobbies and are actively pursuing your dream to be a musician—’
‘Exactly! I love the life that I have right here, right now and don’t want it to change,’ Dani said, panic coating her voice. ‘I feel like one day I’ll wake up and have everything I want and then it’ll be over. How am I supposed to reconcile with that?’
‘I thought sleep and death were cousins.’ Dani scowled at the therapist throwing her words back at her. The therapist held her hands up in surrender before leaning forward. ‘What makes you so sure this one person will change everything?’
‘He already has,’ Dani admitted. ‘I’m different around him. I’m changing and the more I change, the more I want to see him. I talk to him every day and it’s not enough. I miss him in a way I’ve never missed anyone. Sometimes, it hurts to stay away from him.’
‘Well, while there can be a concern around the intensity of your feelings, I think you just answered your own question,’ Dr Castillo said. ‘You’ve just admitted that he makes you feel different than all the ones before, right?’
‘Yeah.’
‘So, he’s not the same as the other guys before him,’ she continued.
‘No. There are some distinct differences,’ Dani said reluctantly.
‘So, what’s to say that things can’t be different this time around? That you won’t make the same mistakes. That the “ending” you see coming won’t be for the better? More than likely, you’re not the same person you were when you pursued those other relationships. So, instead of comparing him to the past, focus on the present. Maybe he is just as bad as the ones before or maybe he’s exactly what you need. The real question is: are you willing to find out?’
Dani shifted uncomfortably on the couch. Logically, her therapist was right. Even now, she couldn’t be sure since she only fully remembered one lifetime. From what she remembered, none of her other lifetimes had previous memories but there was no denying the pattern. So, now what? She looked at the clock that hung on the wall.
‘Times up, doc,’ Dani said. She grabbed her things and walked out, just as confused as she was before. Or perhaps there was no easy way to look at it. She had to choose between this love or life. And if she had to choose, the answer should be life, right?
Before she could process her own doubts, she felt a familiar twinge forming around her temple. She stumbled a couple of steps before she could catch herself. She gritted her teeth as she forced her vision to focus, realisation dawning on her.
She was already starting to remember another lifetime.
Tomorrow, she thought as she headed straight for her car.I’ll start figuring out everything tomorrow.
‘Bro, look at this. Someone did this for their history project last year.’ Ross tapped Jones’s shoulder, holding out his phone for him to see the video playing. Jones squinted at the screen before taking the phone.
A jolt went through him as he spotted Dani sitting in a living room, wearing a floor-length dress holding her cello. There was another Black girl, dark-skinned with straight hair formed into a fancy updo, sitting next to her in a Regency-era dress. Dani started playing Mozart as the girl calmly sipped tea for a few seconds. Then, another girl, also Black and dressed up, walked up behind the two and Dani transitioned to another song as the third girl started to dance behind the pair.
He smiled as he recognised the melody to a song he helped Jair with, reading the caption, ‘When Black people enter the history chat.’ He chuckled as he handed his friend the phone back. He remembered Dani mentioning that she was helping her friend with a video the last time they talked.
‘Dope,’ he said. ‘I see Carver’s protégé is as good as he says she is.’
‘What?’ Ross tapped the screen to replay the video. ‘Oh, is that the girl he introduced to us? What’s her name? Dina… Diane…’
‘Dani,’ Jones filled in, his smile becoming softer, but he schooled his expression as Ross looked up. He snapped and pointed at Jones.
‘That’s it! I’m surprised you remembered it.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Nigga, you barely remember my name half the time.’
