The Ghost of Ghetty

Olivia grasped firmly the steering wheel in front of her. Hot tears were burning down her cheeks, while the cold October rain splashed onto the windshield. She did her best to focus on the road ahead, but all she could see was his face in that heart-wrenching moment. He had transformed into someone she didn’t even recognize.

“I think it would be best if you were to leave tonight and go spend the night at your own place instead.” His words lingered on her mind much like the salt from her tears still lingered on her lips.

She couldn’t decipher which was louder – the wild thumping of her heart within her chest or the thud of the front door being locked behind her. Olivia left that night with an irrevocable sense of closure. As if she had meant nothing to him these past three months. The white calla lily bouquet had remained untouched in the sink. The opportunity to thank him for it had dissipated along with the warmth which once embraced them. Along with every shared kiss. It was all lost in vain.

Olivia noted the time on her watch. It was already one in the morning. The bright fluorescent glow from the laptop illuminated her dark apartment. She clung onto her credit card as though it was a life vest. Those flight deals looked incredibly tempting. But most importantly, there was no one holding her back anymore.

Olivia’s hand trembled over the cursor which hovered over the “Book Now” button on the screen. Overpowered by an all consuming impulse, she clicked on the highlighted link. A faint voice inside of her reassured Liv it was a sensible choice.

“Good Morning ladies and gentlemen. We are beginning our initial descent over Los Angeles…” The captain’s eager announcement pulled Olivia away from the gloomy thoughts she had slipped into once again.

Ten years ago, after a devastating heartbreak, Liv had fled to sunny California. The salty Pacific ocean air in Santa Monica, the quietness of the Getty Villa, the fiery gold sunsets. They all had, somehow, managed to mend the shards of her heart back together. With childlike naivete, Liv hoped to experience the same kind of magic again. A magic that would heal her wounds and bring her back to life.

The only obstacle now standing between Olivia and Villa Getty was the heavy L.A traffic. She kept glancing at her watch as though she was late for a date. To her, the Villa was more than a museum. It held ancient secrets and the sculptures were her unwavering companions in challenging times. She needed their support now more than ever.

Olivia made her way to her most treasured corner in the garden. The fountain was just as she remembered it. A source of infinite peace. Liv allowed herself to close her eyes for just a moment and feel the warmth of the sun on her face. An unusual sound flustered Olivia and she turned in the direction of it.

“You finally came!”, a male British accent caught her off guard. The six feet tall man inched forward towards her. Seemingly, he had appeared as if from thin air.

Olivia’s breath tangled in a knot at the sight of him. Deep, ocean blue eyes held her gaze captive. His golden blonde hair glistened upon the sunlight.

“Oh, I didn’t even see you”, she finally managed a response. Hesitation compelled Liv to lean back further, which nearly sent her tumbling in the fountain behind.

A soft and inviting chuckle escaped from him. Almost melodic. “The most beautiful things in life are invisible to the naked eye. I’m Charles, by the way.” He slipped into the space beside Olivia. There was something incredibly familiar about this man. Yet, she was certain their paths had never crossed before. His pale white skin was haunting. It resembled the marble sculptures in Getty.

“I’m Olivia”. The recent heartbreak still echoed in her voice. “It has been a challenge, lately, to have faith in the unseen.”

Charles motioned softly towards the water, inviting her to glance at the ripples. “We’re all just reflections of ourselves. I know why you came here. And it has nothing to do with admiring the ancient Greek statues.”

Her puzzled gaze prompted him to continue. “You came here to unearth a version of yourself that isn’t broken. But the truth is, she already exists within you. You are just unable to see it.” The tiny waves in the fountain mirrored both of their silhouettes.

A slight smile appeared on her lips. “How did you even know that?”

“I could sense the air around you. It was dense with pain and sadness. There’s still sorrow in your eyes” He leaned in closer and the warmth of the California sun amplified.

“I thought that coming here would fix it,” Liv admitted. The confession hung in the air between them. “Just as it once did for me.”

Charles delicately traced his fingers along Olivia’s hand. “You cannot expect that what worked in the past would work in the same manner.” his voice was soft but firm. “Old keys won’t open new doors. You have to find a new way to rewrite the story. You have to find the new key.”

The sun descended further on the horizon, marking the passage of time. Olivia had revealed sacred depths of her soul to a man she had just met. A complete stranger. Trust didn’t come naturally to her, yet Charles made it easy. It was ingrained in their connection. The tightness in her chest eased with every word exchanged between them.

“I think I may have lost my way”, she finally admitted.

Charles’s blue eyes held hers. “No one is ever lost, Liv.”

He leaned in slightly and the air between them crackled. Palpable longing lingered. “Tell me.” his voice barely above a whisper. “If this world was ending right now, would you still be thinking about the man who didn’t want you? The man who asked you to leave? Or would you rather spend this moment right here with me?”

In his eyes Olivia saw her fears, her hopes and dreams. She saw herself whole again.

Charles gently tilted her chin up and softly brushed his lips against hers. Their kiss was slow and steady. Warm and tender. It reclaimed all that which had been forgotten, blending past, present and future together.

Cool breeze caressed her lips where his had been just a moment ago. Olivia opened her eyes. But Charles was nowhere to be found. She frantically scanned her entire surroundings for him. His disappearance was even more unforeseen than his arrival.

“Charles?”, she pleaded into the silent space around. “What’s going on?”

His absence sank heavier.

A soft whisper echoed in the air around her. A familiar voice.

“Thank you for setting me free, Olivia. It took a hundred years for someone to finally see me. A hundred years for someone to shatter my heartache and sorrow. Your kiss fractured the eternal cycle I was trapped in. Your healing became mine.”

A faint gasp caught deep within her slipped out at the realization of who he was. What he was.

Olivia glanced at the water in the fountain. The woman looking back at her was familiar, yet she was different than the one who had stepped into the Getty Villa earlier this morning. That encounter may have been fleeting, but their kiss wasn’t.

His kiss was the key to her new world.