Ruth: Reimagined

Suffocating

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Suffocating
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Naomi closed her eyes, breathing in Elimilek's garment one more time. It smelt less and less of him each day. Hearing the sound of laughter echoing around the house, with Mahlon and Chillion, being the loudest, and the two young Moabite women seeming to have already made friends with each other, she put the garment away. Stepping out of Elimilek and her room, she released a breath and practiced a smile.

On the wooden dining table, Ruth sat next to Mahlon on the left side, facing Orpah while Chillion and Orpah sat on the right. A hearty stew made from lentils, onions, and garlic with flavoured herbs lay before each of them, with the bread that Orpah baked.

Naomi stepped into the dining area, mid-conversation.

"Wait," Mahlon began, amusement dancing in his eyes. "So you're telling me it's tradition for your father to fight the man who wants to wed you."

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Orpah answered, and they all laughed, except for Chillion.

"He did not go easy on me," Chillion commented, and Mahlon snickered.

Then, he turned to Ruth. "Is this something I would have had to do if I met your father?"

Chuckling, Ruth shook her head. "No. I'm from a different clan in Moab. Orpah's clan -"

The chair scraped the floor, and they all turned to Naomi, who sat at the head of the table.

"Why haven't you all started eating?"

"We were waiting for you." Chillion stated.

"No one," Elimilek had said,"- is allowed to eat until your mother has a seat at the table. She prepared the food. The least we could do is give her the honour of waiting."

It was a though the memory flickered in all their eyes, Ruth and Orpah, not catching the sudden tension. Naomi nodded, calming her heavy heart and clearing her throat.

"Shall we pray?"

Joining hands, they all closed their eyes to pray and bless the food, Naomi prayed. It was as she prayed to Yahweh that Ruth opened her eyes, almost scared to peep, then she met eyes with Orpah. The two of them shared a look; they would have to leave their gods behind and take on a new one, and his name was Yahweh.

When the prayer was done, Ruth and Orpah broke gazes with each other. They all started eating, a silence settled at first. Awkward. Nerve-wracking, in a sense.

Naomi's eyes flitted to the other end of the table, where there always used to be a pair of brown eyes that would meet hers. Where the man she loved once sat. The chair was empty, and she felt the absence of the person who was supposed to be there.

"So," Naomi began, looking down at her food first, then lifting her eyes, to look at the two couples before her. "How did you guys meet?"

Mahlon and Chillion both met eyes, then looked at their kallah's before turning to their mother, answering simultaneously.

"She held a dagger to my throat."

"She danced and ran away from the King."