An excerpt from my story Love in Antwerp Catherine took his hand and led him toward the Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp. “Come Leo, I will show you my favorite places to walk upon arriving in your city,” Catherine said and then added, “I think you walk there sometimes too.” Leo nodded his head approvingly, but was ashamed to admit that he had only visited this part of town two or three times during his two years of living in the city. “What a majestic building this is,” Catherine said when they approached the cathedral. “I see it every day; it can be seen everywhere,” Levon replied. “I like to come here on Sundays and listen to the organ,” Catherine said and added, “You cannot imagine how divine it sounds in here. After hearing Catherine’s words, Leo suddenly thought about her aunt. “Leo, do you like the organ?” Catherine interrupted his thoughts. “Yes, yes of course,” Leo replied absently, but recovered himself and found the words to continue, “I heard it in Paris at the Notre Dame.” “Really?” Catherine asked. “Really,” Leo replied and added, “what a wonder?” “Are you Catholic?” Catherine asked. No, but I am Christian,” Leo answered proudly. “If you are not Catholic, where do you go to church?” Catherine continued to ask. “Our church is the Armenian Apostolic Church,” Leo replied and began to talk about his faith. Catherine listened to Leo’s story with great interest. It was a lot of interesting things that she did not know. And seeing Catherine’s interest in his religion, Leo decided to tell her more about his history. So for half an hour, they stood at the front of the cathedral and did not even notice how quickly time passed, and then Catherine took her partners hand and said, “Let us go admire your Big Market.” “And then you will tell me what your aunt was thinking about when she was reminded of our addresses?” Leo said in a joking manner. “Oh, how clever you are,” Catherine continued and went forward. “No, Seriously,” Leo insisted. Then Catherine sighed and said softly, “You will know, but later.” “Later when? Please tell me now,” Leo insisted. “Well, at the end of our walk,” Catherine replied and added, is this okay for you?” Leo and Catherine looked so good that Saturday morning that passers-by turned and looked at them. Many cast a curious look at this nice and young couple. Their youth and beauty gave them more confidence, they talked, smiled, and it seemed that between them something magical and eternal was beginning. In the Great Square, Catherine and Leo reached the statue of Brabo, and Catherine began to listen to the murmur of water coming from this sculpture. “Leo, look around and please listen to this murmur. Everything here is so perfect just like in a fairy tale,” Catherine said. Leo looked at Catherine, at her face which was so sincere and so naive that he wondered if this girl was from this world or a fairy tale? Leo alternately looked at the surrounding medieval buildings then at Catherine’s green eyes, which were so romantic, and there was so much life and so much love in them. “Leo, it is always so hard for me to leave this city,” Catherine suddenly began. Leo looked with amazement at her and waited for her to continue. And as a good actress, Catherine cleverly continued her pause. Then looking at the cautious Leo said, “You cannot imagine how I do not want to leave this city, but it is necessary.” Leo listened to Catherine with a surprised face. “But you promise to write me a letter, correct? I will wait for your letters,” Catherine said. “I promise,” Leo replied firmly, but immediately asked, “Are you leaving soon?” “Yes, I am leaving soon. You have no idea how soon I am leaving,” Catherine answered and immediately went “Oh my God, why do we have to leave again failing to properly communicate?” Leo become sad from this news but maintaining calmness, he began to calm Catherine, “Do not worry Catherine, we will meet again tomorrow. I do not work, and we can walk all day together.” Catherine looked at Leo and began to shake her head. “You are so thoughtful, Leo,” she said softly and continued, “I would like to go out with you tomorrow, but unfortunately we are leaving tomorrow morning.” “Is that correct, Catherine?” Leo asked in surprise. “Yes, we must return to Brussels as soon as possible. My grandmother is ill,” Catherine explained. “Your grandmother is so bad that you need to return so soon to her?” Leo asked. “She is at the age ...,” Catherine started to answer, but Leo stopped her and said, “Do not worry Catherine, we will certainly meet again.” “How I wanted to spend the rest of my vacation with you, you cannot imagine Leo,” Catherine said sighing. “What can you do, you have to take care of your grandmother. God grant her long life,” Leo said then added sadly, “I lost my grandparents in childhood, so I grew up without them.” Catherine looked at Leo with sad eyes and began to search for words. But suddenly, as if wanting to reassure Catherine, Leo offered to leave the area where this sadness began and go toward the embankment. “Could you visit me in Brussels?” Catherine continued the conversation. But Leo was not ready to answer this question right at this moment. He did not know how to explain to this young girl, whom he was older by three years, that his parents would not allow him to do it, and he could not be absent from work for so long. “Catherine, I would like to visit you, but I cannot afford it right now,” Leo answered after some thought. “What prevents you?” Catherine asked with youthful naivete. “I cannot do it now,” Leo said apologetically. “Leo, you do not have to do anything for it, you only need to come. You would stay at my house. I would show you our wonderful city. You would enjoy the visit, you will see,” Catherine said. Leo listened to Catherine and realized how much this young girl wants to become friends with him. He saw how she looked at him with adoring eyes and waited for his positive response. Finally realizing that he could not break her heart, he gave her a meager promise to try to visit her at winter, after the Christmas holiday. “The trade of precious stones is a little weaker during that time, and I can persuade my uncle to let me go for a few days,” Leo said. “That is wonderful,” Catherine said and smiled sweetly at him. While Catherine tried hard to get Leo to make her a promise, and Leo did not want to give one, they reached the port. The closer they got to the port, the more people surrounded them. “I guess these people came here to say goodbye to someone,” Leo said and then looked farther ahead and said, “there is the ship, see Catherine, it must have departed recently.” Catherine said nothing in reply to Leo. She was focused on one woman, who was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. “Catherine, what would your parents say if I visited you? Would it be okay?” Leo asked, interrupting her from sad thoughts. “Leo, it really bothers you that much?” Catherine asked in turn. “To be honest, yes,” Leo replied. “Do not worry Leo, I am not a little girl, I will be eighteen years old soon,” Catherine answered firmly. Then looking at Leo’s surprised face added, “Our house is big, and we have room for an important guest like you. So, do not worry, we will all be glad to see you in our home.” As Leo and Catherine were returning from the waterfront, the sunset had already begun. Leo directed his view to the ancient castle, which stood right by the river and looked mighty under the yellow-red rays of the setting sun. “You know Catherine, I look at this castle and remember how I went to the bank of the Seine to watch the Castle of Capetian’s with my friends in Paris,” Leo said. “It seems like you miss Paris?” Catherine asked. “Yes,” Leo replied sadly. “Maybe you can go there again,” Catherine tried to calm him down. “When will it be? I now have to work a lot,” Leo said.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 02:32:12 +0000
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