Ruth: Reimagined

Over

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Over
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I'm going back home. That thought rang out in Naomi's mind over and over like a scripture that she'd never known existed but now was seared into her mind. And suddenly walking back home wasn't enough, her heart was on fire, and she ran. Feet padding against the floor, heart pounding against her chest, as the breaths tore out of her, she ran and ran and ran until she was banging on the door of home.

The door was pulled open, by Ruth, concern pinched a frown on her face.  Orpah was at her side in no time. Both of them  brought Naomi in, closing the door behind them.

Ruth helped Naomi take a seat, while Orpah ran to get water.

Still gathering herself, Naomi inhaled and exhaled deeper, feeling the gaze of the women on her. The fire in her chest remained even as she drank the cold water.

"What happened?" Ruth asked.

Naomi met eyes with Ruth and then Orpah, and then she erupted in unbelievable laughter. It tore out of her stomach, in powerful waves, uncontrollable. Tears glittered her eyes, and quickly, her laughter turned to weeping.

Orpah shared a look with Ruth. The fear gripped Ruth's heart, as she thought over, what on earth could have happened now.

"Mother," Orpah pressed. "Tell us what happened. You're frightening us."

Naomi wiped her tears, breathing, in and out, taking another gulp of her water. She stared down at her lap, a fallen expression on her face, like she hadn’t been laughing a few moments ago.

"How is it possible," Naomi began, her voice cracking. "–for good news to be ten years too late?"

Lifting her eyes, she met the gaze of Ruth and Orpah.

"The famine in Israel...is finally— finally over. It's over! My God, it is over! That old woman was right. Truly, a tragedy has ended but– You know when I was running back home, my thoughts ran faster than me. No, I think they were flying. I felt this joy stirring up in my spirit. I thought about how I would tell Elimilek that the famine is over– that I would see his face, break out in a smile, as he wept. And then he'd hug me. I thought about how I  would tell Chillion and Mahlon that the famine is over, and the two of them would laugh, uncontrollably, till the tears would spring in their eyes, and thyed see the look in my eyes, the look in Elimilek's eyes and he would nod, confirming the news and my boys would–"

Naomi shook her head, breathing, then she spoke, softer. " Then we would go back home together..."

A heavy silence settled after her words. The pain, so clearly etched on their faces, in a way where they couldn't be separated from it, made itself known in the room like it always did.

No eye, held the other, all of them straying their gaze, to their lap, to the ground.

"This is a wretched fate that I have suffered," Naomi whispered.

The women lifted their gazes, words of comfort at the tip of their tongue, till they stopped themselves, realizing they agreed with her. Wholeheartedly.

"There's nothing left for me here," Naomi said, unknowingly piercing the hearts of the two women.

Nothing.

"Neither  is there anything in Israel, but it's my home, and Elimilek’s land and my sons lands are there too. Before we even left Israel, we'd lost so many people already to the famine. We sold a lot of our cattle, and we were on the verge of death. Mahlon would have been the first to die. I am certain I would have been next. Chillion and Elimilek were stronger yet— He saved my life. Elimelek saved us, but he's not here. What does it all mean if he's not here? What does it mean if I have nothing but my pain. I've spent my whole life. My whole life! Running away from pain, from grief, but it always found a way to get to me. I'm done running— I'm tired and old and made up of all the dead things. I should just go home, step foot on Israel, and die in the land that's alive with the memories of my husband and sons."