Spirit Guide ...Finis ...Awake my Soul

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.
― Anatole France

My ghostly benefactor, Basil, told me to get a dog—I went further and started a family. Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but adopting Heart cemented my relationship with Charlotte.

In her concern to look after our golden retriever puppy she ended up coming back to my house, falling asleep and staying overnight.

Lucky me.

When I awoke shortly after dawn, grey light was just beginning to suffuse through the blinds.

I looked over to see Heart, still curled up, his head resting in the crook of Charlotte’s arm. She was still fast asleep; her cheeks a lovely pink, and her breath rising and falling like waves upon the sea.

I knew then I wanted this to last forever—that we had become a family.

That night we spent caring for Heart was a watershed in our relationship. It was my beginning in a coloured world I only knew in dreams.

Within a month, Charlotte and I were engaged. I officially adopted Heart and the dream had finally come to stay.

I had one person to thank for my happiness and decided it was time for Charlotte to meet my ghostly mentor.

“I have a surprise,” I told her, one Friday afternoon. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Well okay,” she laughed, “but it can’t be your parents because you’re an orphan just like me.”

“It’s my uncle," I told her, "—he’s been with me through all my hard times.”

She hugged my arm and leaned in close to me. “Then, he’s someone I really want to meet.”

We rode the elevator to the top floor of Chamber House.

When we entered the oak panelled office, Charlotte’s jaw dropped.

“Grandfather?”

Basil crossed the room to hug her. “Hello, Child. I’m glad you’ve come to visit.”

My head was swimming. “Uncle—I don’t understand.”

“I think you both better sit down,” he smiled.

“Why does Cain call you Uncle?” Charlotte demanded.

“Because I am,” the old man sighed, “not by blood, but by love.”

Charlotte looked perplexed, but I reached out and grasped her hand in mine.

Basil explained.

“I came into both your lives when you were nine—when you lost your parents, and I’ve been watching over you all this time.”

“But why?” I moaned. “I still don’t understand.”

“No, I suppose you don’t, my Boy, but suffice it to say, it’s because you both were fated to meet—to unite two houses and begin a new line.”

“You arranged for us to meet?” Charlotte asked incredulously.

“I wouldn’t exactly put it that way. I allowed you to come together and let nature take its course.”

“But why us?” I asked.

He chuckled softly and then said matter-of-factly:

“I chose you both because you’re tender, loving souls and your offspring will make a difference in the world. Besides, you’re soul mates—born in the same star—your atoms mixed together an eternity ago.”

“But wouldn’t we have found each other anyway?” I asked.

“Not always, my Boy—sometimes people fail to meet and live apart tragically. I just helped things along.”

It’s a strange business this law of fate—I don’t comprehend it, but I do see why it exists.

Charlotte feels the same and is glad Basil is there to assist.

We have our own little family now in our house beside the park. Sometimes Basil visits and occasionally helps things along.

There’s a baby on the way and Charlotte’s due any day.

And there’s a welcoming fire to cheer and warm us on those cold, bleak days when the sun doesn’t always shine.

© 2025, John J Geddes. All rights reserved

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