Chapter 49
Helena and James’ House
Montgomery Crescent
Exeter
Friday 23rd October
8.40 a.m.
James brought his wife breakfast in bed. He wouldn’t be starting work until later and Helena didn’t need to be at university until after lunch. He’d taken care of the twins, who were happily amusing one another in the corner of James’ and Helena’s bedroom.
She knew how hard her husband was trying. It was clear that he really wanted to make their marriage work.
He sat on the end of their bed, watching her drink coffee and eat toast, and wondered what had happened to the ‘other’ James. The James that had married Helena, and not been foolish to have had an affair. It had been something which had been on his mind ever since he’d re-written his life in the Hall of Akashic Records.
His mind wandered as he thought about his achievements in such a short period of time.
The concept of an Akashic record came to him in a dream one night, as he tossed and turned in bed.
He’d been living a sad life with his father. After his marriage to Helena had dissolved, he had no choice other than to move in with Han. He didn’t have enough money to put down as a deposit on a flat, and had recently lost his job.
But the dream he’d had filled him with hope. He’d visualised himself rising above the dull and meaningless existence he had endured for far too long, and escaping to somewhere altogether different. James’ dream had taken him to the Astral Plane, and while he was there, he’d felt at peace with himself. For the first time in the longest time he’d felt happy. In his dream of the Astral Plane he’d met a lady called Alice. The two of them had spoken, and it was Alice who told him of the Hall of Akashic Records. He’d felt like he’d known the woman all his life. She was beautiful, serene and understanding. She listened when he told her of his mistakes and misgivings. He told her how he’d idiotically spoiled the best thing he’d ever had, and how Helena had left him over the stupid affair. She saw the sadness in his eyes when he told her all he wanted was Helena, and would do anything to be with her. Alice had smiled, and asked him what would he do if he had a chance to rewrite his past?
In his dream Alice had taken his hand and whispered the following words.
‘James, you are a little world. For, just like the whole, you possess mind and reason, a divine and a mortal body. You are divided up according to the universe. It is for this reason that your consciousness corresponds with the nature of the fixed stars, and your reason in its contemplative aspect with Saturn, and in its social aspect with Jupiter. And as to your irrational part, the passionate nature with Mars, the eloquent with Mercury, the appetitive with Venus, the sensitive with the Sun and the vegetative with the Moon. James, it is up to you to change your destiny. This is something that you can do. And for some, to change their future, it is easier to first change what has happened in their past. I’ll help you on your way to find your Akashic record, and give you the chance to make amends. But be warned, as in the world in which you live, here on the Astral Plane there is a reaction to every action. By changing your past, you will affect not only your future, but the future of others. Worlds are interlinked by others. Not other celestial worlds, but the world you’ve known all your life. This world that we refer to as planet Earth has many facsimiles, and we must be careful not to upset the balance.’
Alice had proceeded to hold his hand, and guide him through a wonderland, where stars filled the sky like he’d never seen before. It was as if he could reach out and touch them. He’d never experienced such a feeling of serenity and happiness. She led him to a doorway within an arch. The arch stood alone. There was no building surrounding it. It reminded him of the remains of the entrance to a derelict castle. Alice had knocked five times on the door, after which it had silently opened.
Beyond the doorway was a building. It had been a library bursting full of the largest books he’d ever seen. He looked above and below, to his left and to his right, and straight ahead. The building had no end. He turned around and saw the archway and door were no longer there. Not only did the library have no end, it had no beginning.
Alice had told him that he was one of the few who’d stood in the Great Hall of Akashic Records. A building which housed not only the pasts of those who’d gone before, and not only the pasts and futures of those who lived, but also the entire lives of those who were yet to be born.
She led him through the great hall and took him to the book in which was written the story of his life. Alice took the book, which was his Akashic record, and placed it on a desk. On the desk was a quill pen, a well of ink and a candle. Alice ran her finger over the wick and a flame appeared, which illuminated the table with a dancing yellow glow.
She said nothing, but he knew what she’d brought him there to do.
In the dream he’d opened the book, which was in the form of a diary. It detailed all that had happened in his life. He came to the entry in which it depicted the stupid, and meaningless affair he’d had behind Helena’s back. The level of detail was frightening. Every other entry for each day of his life was less than half a page, but the description of his brief sexual encounter was full in every detail. On one hand James felt compelled to read the account of his wrong doing, but on the other he was disgusted and wanted to turn away. He chose to read the whole entry, which spanned three pages of the huge tome. His tears flowed and smudged the delicate ink on the ivory hued pages of the book.
He picked up the quill pen, dipped it in the ink well and crossed through any mention of what had happened the night he’d shared a taxi home with Eloise, the young work colleague, who shared the same open plan office as he.
James had been having an after work drink with his office colleagues and Eloise had also been in the pub with her friends. She had a reputation of being flirtatious when drunk, and James had caught her eye. He had also been drinking and his defences were low. The two were having a giggly conversation. His office manager had tried to lure him away from her, but James had become consumed by her sweet talk and suggestive remarks. As time went on, only a few of his friends remained in the pub, and by now they were too drunk to notice Eloise perched on his lap, running her fingers through his hair. She kissed the scar below his eye.
They left the pub together and had flagged down a taxi, which had taken them to her house. Eloise had whispered that her parents were away and would he like to come in.
James slammed the book shut, and buried his head in his hands. He could read no more of what happened on the day which ruined his life. He was disgusted with himself. Reading the account of what had happened made him feel grubby and worthless. He thought of Helena’s smiling face, and wondered just what on earth had possessed him.
James composed himself and reopened the book to the page. He picked up the quill pen and continued to cross out each page which referred to his encounter with Eloise. In the margins of the pages he wrote four words in capital letters.
‘THIS DID NOT HAPPEN’
He closed the book and replaced it on the shelf. He turned to Alice, but she was no longer there. Instead, in his peripheral vision, he caught a glimpse of a young woman wearing a red coat. She was watching him. He’d turned to face her, but she had also gone.
“It was nice to have a break from the noise last night,” said Helena.
Her voice pulled James back to reality. He’d become lost in his thoughts, as if he was back in the Hall of Akashic Records.
“Sorry, what did you say? I was miles away.”
“I could see. You were a real Dolly Daydream. What were you thinking about?”
“Oh, nothing really, just this and that,” he lied. “What were you saying about noise?”
“Next door, he wasn’t playing any music last night.”
Helena was right. For the first time since she could remember, their neighbour had not kept them and the twins a
wake with his deafening thudding music.
“Perhaps he’s gone away,” suggested James.
“Let’s hope so, and the further away the better.”