The silky rose-gold designer's gown clung to every part of her body, giving her an elegant look. Salome felt young, beautiful and graceful but ancient inside. Her moderate three-inch high heels clicked on the marble floor but thankfully the activities in the party room drowned out her arrival.
She did not need the attention unlike a millennium ago when it was her utmost desire to be seen, adored and revered for her beauty and popularity.
She grabbed a flute of champagne from one of the waiters who passed by and tipped it gently as the bubbly drink flowed smoothly down her throat. The orchestra played a lovely tune while some couples took to the dance.
It felt good to be back in London again after many decades. The invitation had come unexpectedly from one of her board of directors and it would have been rude not to attend. Though she rarely attended parties.
A rare vintage vase with delicate lilies beautifully arranged inside it and placed on a dark mahogany table close to the staircase drew her attention. She walked to the table and admired the vase. It brought back memories of a time when she collected vintage things as keepsakes.
"Hmm, my dear you look ravishing. Any man who dares to glance your way tonight will have me to deal with."
Salome froze for a second before she turned to gaze into eyes, the colour of warm coffee. She smiled slightly at the good-looking tall man who grinned and winked at her.
"Thank you?"
"Now, now, Indira. Don't be modest," he said in that husky voice that made her stomach flutter a little. He curved his arm around her slim waist and drew her close to his chest.
Indira? Salome stiffened and blinked rapidly in momentary confusion as time suddenly stood still.
Over the years, the excitement for life began to wane as the people dearest to her grew old and died while she became more robust and blossomed in beauty and health.
At the age of eighty, her hair remained jet black without a single grey strand and not a single wrinkle on her skin. Many mistook her for a twenty-year-old lady. With no living relatives to talk to about her history and genetics, Salome sold her house and belongings and moved away from London to Iisalmi, a quaint city in Finland where she met an old woman who revealed her true nature.
Salome would never die….unless she met her doppelgänger face to face. Then the clock would begin to tick backwards, returning her back to the way things should be.
She gasped and pushed herself out of the young man's arm. Her back hit the table causing the vase to shake a little. Both Salome and the young man scrambled to grab the vase but it slipped and smashed to the ground.
The crowd turned to look at the couple standing beside the broken vase. Another second later, they returned to chatting, drinking and dancing.
Salome's chest area was a little wet with splashes of water from the vase.
"I-I am sorry about this," she stuttered, waving at the broken pieces.
He grabbed her clammy hand in both of his warm hands. "It's okay. Are you alright?" A deep worry creased his brows. She snatched her hand back.
"Excuse me please," she said and turned to walk fast to the bathroom. It was empty except for a lady who nodded at her and exited the room. Salome faced the twin mirrors and looked down at her trembling hands.
He called her Indira as though he knew her. She thought. That could only mean one thing —her time was up. As if on cue, her doppelgänger stepped out of one of the toilets, smoothing down her skirt.
Salome's eyes bulged in shock as she stared at her lookalike in the mirror. The lady froze too. The resemblance was striking, yet uncanny. The only difference being small freckles dotted the lady's nose and cheekbones which could easily be covered with a concealer. They both stood for a long moment, just staring at each other from head to toes.
The tears piled up in her eyes and slowly streaked down her cheeks. "Thank you," Salome whispered. Indira nodded once. She understood and went to hug Salome. Both ladies held each other for a while.
"My grandmother told me I would see you one day and not to panic when I do," Indira whispered back with a chuckle. They pulled apart. "How does it feel to live for more than a millennia, not knowing when you'll die?"
Salome wet her dry lips and shook her head. "Torture," she croaked and cleared her throat. "It's like living without a purpose; no ending in sight. Very unnatural, my dear girl. It felt good for a while but after all the pain of losing my loved ones over and over again, it became unbearable."
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you. I believe there's a young man downstairs who believes I am you..."
"Oh." She covered her face with her palms and groaned into them. "I'll just tell him I went to change my clothes. Which means I have to change this," she pointed at her emerald green halter-neck gown."
"Or let's change instead. You can have my dress while I leave with yours."
The two ladies changed into each other's clothes and went their separate ways after another hug.
Salome went to bed that night with a smile on her face. At long last, she had found a purpose and an ending.
I hope you enjoyed reading this story. It is in response to The Ink Well Prompt #75 and #76, that is, Wonder and Tear.
Thanks for reading!
