Will Love Ever Come?

Chapter ii

ESCHEWAL TOSSES AND TURNS then shoots open his eyes. Sweat streams down his face as his heart races. He grabs his penis, which is rock hard, then realizes the haunting is one of those neurotic dreams he has from time to time.

He panics as he finds himself handcuffed to a hospital bed. Earlier, a car knocked him down as he tried to escape the police.

He looks to his left, and two other beds come into view. The one in the middle is empty, but its sheets are ruffled. The one at the end is neatly made up. He looks towards the ceiling and closes his eyes.

He has had enough of the street life and of being chased by the police. He has had enough of being locked up in cells, and most of all, he has had enough of feeling pain. Tears come to his eyes as nothing comes to his mind on how to escape the street life that he has been trapped in since the days he started having sex with his aunt.

He whispers to himself, "Why?" Before he can repeat, why me? A flood of tears from his repressed pain, anger, and ignorance roll down his face.

As he bawls, he loses himself and slips into his private world, and all past and present sounds are blocked out. While there, he wishes someone could show him how to find happiness. All he wants is to lead a good life that involves marriage, children, and a job.

Gently in the background, the sound of music and a powerful light voice shakes Eschewal out of his semi-consciousness. "Do you want me to call someone, son?" repeats the voice.

Eschewal opens his eyes but does not answer.

The voice continues questioning, "What are all those tears for?"

Eschewal remains silent.

The voice continues, "I bet I can guess why you're crying. You wish you could have the nice things in life without experiencing any pain."

That sentence gets Eschewal's full attention. He wipes his tears and focuses on the old man's wrinkled face and strong, youthful eyes, which reflect genuine honesty.

The old man stares at Eschewal before continuing, "What if I told you that the words in this book," the old man removes a black book from under his pillow, "hold the key to making you happy, rich, and powerful enough never again to feel pain. Would you believe me?"

Eschewal says, "I don't know, does it?"

"Yes, it does, and much more, just as long as you read it and use the knowledge. But remember, whatever you learn, you do not need to believe; you need to accept."

Eschewal chuckles. He holds his waist, and as he sits up, his face grimaces from the pain. "Listen, I don't read books," he says.

The old man nods. "I know you don't read. Most people where you come from don't either. That's why most experience a life of pain and hardship." The old man rises slightly from the bed and extends the black book towards Eschewal. "Take it, read the book."

Eschewal does not take the black book, but he is intrigued and says, "But why give me the book?"

The old man smiles and says, "I have finished with it; I no longer need it."

Eschewal extends his hand but is restricted by the handcuffs.

The old man stretches closer and says, "Remember, the use of knowledge is power..." then drops the black book into Eschewal's hand.

The old man continues talking, but, as if told to focus and read the letters on the board by an optician, Eschewal is captivated by the black book's title:

HOW TO CREATE YOUR DESTINY

AND FOREVER LIVE LIFE

WITH HAPPINESS & RICHES!

Eschewal looks up towards the old man for an explanation of the title, but the old man has already left the room. This leaves him without a choice. He opens the black book.