The Statue - Part III

The Statue

Part III

Written by Cassia Sherrill

The man made his way over to where the girls were, and with a face filled with awe, he stared deeply into Chelsea’s eyes. “You are my soulmate.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “This isn’t happening, and no, I am not. Zoe, did you put him up to this? Are we on one of those game or prank shows? This is ridiculous.” She started frantically looking around for the hidden camera crew she was convinced was hiding out.

The man not skipping a beat asked, “My love, I know this is a lot to take in, but you touched my hand and I came to life. Just as my creator intended. It’s magical!” In a dancingly graceful motion, he made his way to where Chelsea was still looking for the camera crew, and he grabbed her hand and kissed it.

At that moment, a tourist came up to the man and Chelsea and asked to get a picture of the two of them. “Why of course! It isn’t everyday that I find the love of my life. It is a historic day indeed so take all the pictures you would like.” He wrapped his arm around Chelsea's shoulder and grinned hugely.

Chelsea refused to smile for the pictures, and before pulling away from him, she said, “You are crazy! What do you want from me?” She pushed his arm away from her shoulder as she spoke and started making her way back to Zoe.

“I want you, my beloved!” He apologized to the tourists before he started following her as she was trying to escape him.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw him following her with the same joyful smile painted on as before. This guy was literally spat out of a freaking fairytale…

“Zoe!” She said as she approached her, “Can you please do something? If this is like a prank or something, please cut it out. It was funny. Ha ha. Now I am done.”

Zoe had continued to wear a face of shock that she had since he first called out to them. She grabbed Chelsea’s arm and in hushed tones said, “Chels, this isn't me. I didn’t do this. I don’t know who he is or what is going on…”

Chelsea could tell that Zoe seemed a bit freaked out so she knew she was serious. She started getting a sick feeling like maybe this was like a stalker situation or something. She was big on crime shows and reading crime novels, and all the scenarios of how this possible stalker situation could play out was making its appearance in her head. “We have got to get rid of him, Zoe…”

“Ladies? Where were-” he wasn’t able to continue his question because Chelsea aggressively elbowed him in the stomach as soon as he was in close proximity to her. He let out a cry of pain and fell to his knees while Chelsea grabbed Zoe’s hand to try and execute her escape plan. Zoe, however, was not a person of violence, and she hated seeing anyone in pain.

“Chelsea, why the heck did you do that?” she cried as she knelt to help him. “Sir, I am so sorry my friend did that to you. Are you okay?”

Chelsea stood a few feet away from them, panting. Her mind was racing with thoughts and plans of how they could get out of this situation, but Zoe was going to make that completely impossible. Her friend was like a Disney princess. She made friends with anything and everything, and she knew this mysterious guy would be no different.

“I am okay, Miss. Thank you!” He looked up to meet Chelsea’s gaze, and in a tender manner, he said, “I know this is difficult to grasp. It isn’t everyday that love comes along and finds you, but I am here for you. Only you.” He stood to his feet with Zoe’s help as he continued, “I have stood in that spot where my creator placed me for decades. Just waiting for the right one to come along. Now that you have found me, I am going to do everything I can to win your heart.”

Zoe looked at him and then at Chelsea with her mouth wide open. When she looked back at him, she said with clearly a quiver in her throat, “Oh my goodness, that was beautiful, Sir.” He smiled at her before he met Chelsea’s eyes once more.

She let out a loud groan. “Look, sir -”

He gently interrupted with, “My name is Henry, my dear.”

“Fine, Henry. Look, I am sorry I hit you, but I am not who you think I am. I am not your soulmate. I have a boyfriend, who is definitely not you. I hate to crush this fairytale-like spirit you’ve got going on right now, but I am not her. I’m sorry.”

“Why did you touch my hand then?” he said and for the first time actually looked quite sad. “Only people who are looking for a soulmate usually are the ones to touch my hand?”

“I touched your hand because my friend made me, okay? I was not trying to wake you up from your...statue state. I was merely trying to please my friend.”

Henry looked down at the ground, and Zoe felt badly for him. Chelsea could tell that much. Her friend looked at her and said, “Chels, why don’t you give him a chance? Maybe...maybe he really is your soulmate? I mean you did touch his hand and then he-”

She interrupted, “Zoe, please! This isn’t a romance novel or some shit like that. I do not believe that this dude just came to life because I touched his hand. I don’t. I think it’s crazy, and if it’s alright with you, I would like to go now.”

Henry looked at her, “Chels, I-”

“My name is Chelsea to you.”

“Okay...Chelsea, I know you don’t know me, and I know you don’t believe in what may be happening here. Will you at least let me tag along with you guys for a bit? Until I figure out what to do since my soulmate doesn’t want anything to do with me?”

Zoe chimed in, “It’s the least we can do, right? It wouldn’t hurt to have him tag along for a bit.”

Chelsea sighed. “You can come eat lunch with us. That’s it. After that, you have to leave us alone, you understand?”

Henry lit up much more than Chelsea was expecting. “Thank you, Chelsea. And what is your name?”

“My name is Zoe,” she said as she shook his hand with a smile.

“Nice to meet you both!” His eyes made their way back to Chelsea. He seemed to be trying to peer deep into her soul. She didn’t want any of that so she turned her back to him and started walking.

As they were walking, she heard Henry say to Zoe, “You know...I am really excited for food. I have never had any food.”

Zoe was shocked. “What? You haven’t? Well...I guess that does make sense with you being a statue and all.”

“Oh yes, I have seen people bring delicious looking food and drinks around my area for decades, but I have had nothing. What should I get as my first meal, Zoe?”

The two continued to chat about food behind Chelsea as she continued to blaze the trail back to the subway for them. She sighed as she thought, This is going to be a long day...