Catherine gave Paul a sideways glance, and suspiciously asked, "Would that mutual friend be Jenny by any chance?"
Paul astonishingly said, "Yes it was, and she said you must have dropped 10 lbs. since you met this guy on Halloween. I guess you got it bad uh?"
Catherine tried to smile, as she said, "Oh Paul, you know Jenny, she rates everything in life, by the amount of weight that is either lost or gained!"
Paul looked at Catherine, and knowingly said, "Chandler, come on give...admit it. It hurts...I know."
Catherine knew Paul quite well all through college, and he even shared an apartment with her and 2 other people for a semester or two. And then after college, they interned together at her Father's firm.
But he didn't stay at the firm for long, because he wanted the excitement of digging in, and working with every day people, so he sought out a job at the D.A. And well, truth be told, Catherine deep in her heart envied him for that.
And so...yes, Paul knew Catherine very well indeed, and she could not fool him. And as she lowered her head and started to cry, Paul comforted her, by taking her into his arms.
And so with a loving embrace, he let his dear friend cry.
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Meanwhile, as Vincent stood by the little bench, in the snow covered park, he realized it seemed as if Catherine tried to find him, as these footprints had to be hers. He then decided because of her sadness, and because he hoped against hope, that she did want to speak to him, then yes, he was ready to go to her.
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Upon entering Catherine's balcony, Vincent was about to knock on the window pane, when through the sheer draperies, he could see she was not alone. A man was there with her, and he was holding her!
To see Catherine in the arms of another was too much for Vincent to take. Clearly he had misread the situation, and he should not have come.
And so...Vincent left Catherine's balcony that night, once more a broken man.
Meanwhile, because Catherine wanted to be alone, she gingerly asked, "Paul, would you mind terribly if I..."
But before Catherine could finish her sentence, Paul did it for her, by saying, "If you ask me to leave?"
Kindly, Paul looked at Catherine, and understandingly said, "Of course Cathy, I understand. I'll give you a few days and then I'm expecting a call."
With a tragic smile, Catherine appreciatively said, "Thank you Paul."
As Paul gave Catherine a peck on the cheek, he then said, goodbye.
Alone once again, Catherine looked around her lonely apartment, and as hopelessness filled her heart and soul...she sat down and cried.
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Upon entering the tunnels, Vincent ran, and ran, and didn't stop until he reached the Chamber of the Falls.
It was there, he was able to wail so no one would hear, and it was there he emptied his heart.
Vincent had to except, his hope filled dream was officially over! And all he believed had been between he and Catherine, had been a lie.
Tonight, Vincent saw for himself, that Catherine was with another man. And this thought tortured Vincent, and drove the darkness in his soul upward, and clouded his heart!
And as Vincent's darker self tried to take over, in this state, it seemed clear, Catherine no longer looked upon him like she had on the night they met, as she expressed her words of devotion, and desire to be in his life...had been lies...he had been betrayed.
And as his alter ego kept repeating this cruel realization, it began to infiltrate, and manifest itself within Vincent's pure and golden heart! And this pain caused him to double over, as he cried out Catherine's name into the abyss.
Somewhere though, within his being, he began to fight back, as he knew this thinking wasn't right!
He knew he had to put a stop to these hurtful thoughts that were gaining control, making him feel insecure about his ability to control his darker self. This darker self which spoke of Catherine as a possession to claim.
All these primal thoughts made him wonder about his internal instincts, and where they came from, and what was the source of their origin.
And so triumphantly, as his rationality began to take hold, he knew Catherine did not have it in her heart to betray anyone!
Vincent knew Catherine possessed a kind and a gentle heart. And that was why she couldn't hurt him, or say goodbye.
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Meanwhile, Jacob had received reports about Vincent's comings and goings, and the latest report from the Sentry on duty Daniel, via the runner Mortimer, was that, Vincent was very upset.
And as Vincent ran through the winding tunnels toward the Chamber of the Falls, other sentries also reported in.
So Jacob knew where Vincent was, and privately, he feared his actions.
Jacob couldn't help but wonder how distraught was Vincent, and would his emotions cause himself to do something foolish, and should he go to him?
Deciding, and knowing he had to trust in Vincent. Yes, after falling short the other day, Jacob now had to prove he had faith in his son's nature.
And so Jacob sat at his table with his head in his hands as he Petitioned for Vincent to find the strength he needed to get through this difficult time.
Mean time, with all his emotions finally spent, Vincent headed slowly back to his chamber, collapsing into the chair at his writing table, where he then lit a candle.
Sitting there now, Vincent knew his dream was over...and had to find his way once more. But this all seemed so impossible, as for now his thoughts were of Catherine...his heart was beating for Catherine, and how it ached, and was breaking for Catherine.
It would seem Vincent had crossed a plateau this night. All hope was now gone. Somehow he had to find a way to say goodbye to Catherine in his heart. Say goodbye to a dream.
Meanwhile, as Jacob sat relieved to hear Vincent had now returned to the safe confines of his Chamber, he could breathe again, as his prayers had been answered.
The thought then occurred to Jacob, once again to interfere, and to somehow find this Catherine. But no! Any meddlesome actions would be nothing more than a foolish notion.
Or was it? Once again Jacob decided he could not go against Vincent's wishes.
And so meanwhile, as Vincent sat looking at the flickering flame, he gathered his thoughts of what he wanted to enter into his Journal. Picking up his pen, he turned to a fresh page and began to write:
Dearest Catherine, Seeing you tonight so unexpectedly in the park affected me so profoundly. How I longed to talk to you. Perhaps the interruption of the minstrels was a Blessing. If you would have told me there was someone new in your life, I am not sure I could have handled the news right then. It was later after I stilled my pounding heart, that I had to try to see you again, and so I came to you, however when I did enter your balcony, you were not alone. There was a man there and you were within his embrace. Once again my heart was shattered. Catherine I don't know how much longer I can exist like this, not knowing what went so wrong between us. I have to wonder why you didn't leave a note in reply to mine telling me that you do not wish to see me again? I needed to hear so that I can find a balance and put a halt to this fools dream I had of you and I together. I must find a way to go on with my life without the dream of you in it. I must, Catherine but it is difficult, now that I have experienced your sweetness, I cannot forget the sensations of being excepted and wanted as a man. Not even death has the power to end this pain, for love has no dominion, and this sorrow I fear will follow me for all of eternity. So here on earth, I will endure, and carry on in a life that seems to loom ahead in an endless sea of want and loneliness. Sleep well Catherine Sleep well Vincent
Putting down his pen, Vincent decided to soak his tired weary body, and so he headed for the Hot Springs Chamber.
Upon lighting one of the torches, he slipped out of his clothes and into the water, sinking deeply, below the surface of the water, where he swam freely, losing himself in this aquatic realm.
Staying under until he could not any longer, Vincent sprang up out of the water to refill his lungs with air, and then settled into a corner of the pool letting the water swirl around him, when his thoughts, once again were of his dreams, and memories of Catherine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, as Catherine prepared her bath, she thought back to what Paul had said, and wondered if she had lost weight.
And so upon stepping on the scale, she was surprised to see Jenny was right. She had lost 10-12 pounds. And as she looked at herself in the mirror, she realized she did look a bit gaunt, and would make a concerted effort to take better care of herself...at least if not for herself, but for all those who love and care about her.
As Catherine turned off the hot water to her tub full of bubbles, she then lit a scented candle, and lowered herself into the water, to warm the cold from her self.
Sweet memories then consumed her, and of the night she met Vincent, and she wondered what could have changed from the time they said goodbye, when she was sure the tears they shared were genuine. Yet, it would seem as though Vincent did have a change of heart, and the only explanation had to be, he discovered how deeply he really felt for Brigit.
Catherine did at least, have that one night. And the memories of that night, would always end up dominating her private moments alone.