A BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP

A BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP
His heart was heavy and his footsteps were weary. His existence had no meaning ever since he lost his partner. He was useless without her. He had searched for her like a maniac. But with each passing day, his hope diminished. His heart was filled with a deep anguish as deep down he knew that she was dead.
Nevertheless, he continued to search. Today, he had selected a rough neighborhood. Maybe his sorrow would drown temporarily in the misery of his surroundings. Suddenly, he sniffed that familiar scent. He was intrigued and he allowed the scent to lead him.
He found himself in a dark alley, which led to an impoverished neighborhood. He shuddered at the squalor, violence and sin around him. He saw women with painted faces and skimpy dresses, waiting below street lights. He was overcome with deep melancholy at this degradation of humanity.
The scent was stronger now. He stopped in front of a house. He was petrified when he looked at it. Why was this familiar scent coming from such a decrepit and dilapidated house? The front door was ajar and he slipped in.
He found himself in a dingy room. The walls looked like it had been ages since they were last painted. A small lamp hung from the ceiling. A bed stood in the middle of the room. On one side was couch. And sure enough, she was sitting on it.
He was delighted that he had at last found his companion. Momentarily, he lost sense of his dim surroundings. She was wearing a white dress and her long, lustrous hair hung by the sides. She had buried her face in her hands. Her body was shaking. He understood that she was crying.
He tiptoed to her. He held her face and raised it. Her eyes were red and tears were streaming down her cheeks. She looked sad. But her beautiful and innocent features, cheered him.
“Truth, I found you at last.” His voice was choked with emotion.
“I have been expecting you for some time now. Wonder what took you so long, Courage?” she replied.
He sat down next to her. He held her hand and said, “I was so worried. I thought you were dead.”
“I would have been, if I would not have found her. Nobody else wants me.” She said, pointing to a woman who had just appeared in the room. She had just got out of the shower, and had draped a towel around her. Courage realized that his friend’s hostess was much younger than she actually looked.
They both saw her apply heavy make-up. She selected a small dress which concealed less and revealed more. Her dress and the neighborhood was enough for Courage to guess her profession. “What is my companion doing here?” he thought.
Truth read his mind. “She is an honest girl. Circumstances have forced her into this. She could change her life, but she lacks courage. Her house was the only place I found suitable to dwell in.” She explained.
Courage got up and walked up to the girl. He touched her. There was a knock at the door. The woman opened it. Standing in the doorway was a bespectacled, young man.
“Not again, John!” She sounded exasperated.
“I will never bother you again, Martha. I have found a job in another city and am leaving tonight. I want to ask you one last time. Will you come with me?” John’s voice was intense.
They had had this conversation before and every time Martha had simply brushed it away. She knew that John loved her, but she had no intention of ruining his life. The scars of her profession were too deep and their burden would be too heavy for him to bear, she had thought. But tonight she felt different.
She touched him on his cheek. This was an unusual sign of tenderness on her part, and he was surprised.
“Are you sure you want this?” she asked.
“Absolutely. I have wanted this from the day I first saw you in the orphanage. I have loved you every moment of our growing up there. We will start a new life in another city.” His voice was confident, and full of conviction. She kissed him in response.
Truth and Courage watched with great satisfaction as John helped Martha pack her few meager belongings.
After the couple left, Courage looked at Truth and said, “I need your help.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“A bunch of misguided young men. They have so much courage and are not afraid of anything, but they do not see the truth. They kill in the name of religion,” Courage explained.
Truth stood up. She offered him her hand. “Lead me,” she said.
Word Count: 798