Ruth: Reimagined

Noble

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Noble
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“So you'd say love is timeless then which would explain why you and mother fell in love so quickly,” Obed said, hazel eyes shifting towards his father.

“Definitely.” Boaz said, after a moment. “It was, unexplainable in its depth at the time, and it's only grown since then.”

“What’s it like?”

“Like a drop of liquid gold, melting in one's tongue—I wanted more”

~🍁~

The silence after her words was like a series of vulnerable confessions.

It wasn't as though they'd  known each other for a long time, but something about her eyes felt familiar, something about her smile, something about her. And to Ruth, it was the same sentiment. Something about him was as familiar, as it was safe, yet also new.

When laughter slipped out of his lips  like a soft exhale, she was laughing too, her heart squeezing.

“May you be blessed by the Lord, Ruth,” Boaz uttered, still awestruck the moment.“ You have made your last kindness better than the first. You've captured the attention of quite a number of men. You have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.”

“ Now, Lady Ruth, do not be afraid. I will do for you whatever you ask, since all the people of my town know you are a woman of noble character. It is true that I am your close relative and redeemer. However…”

Her eyes dimmed in light.

“There is a relative closer to you than I. One who has the right to redeem you before me.”

His words revealed him.

“Stay here tonight, and I will protect you. In the morning, we’ll see if he’s willing to redeem you. If he does," there was a resignation in his voice, "good; let him. But," the spark in his eyes caught her heart in a grip, as he went on.

"—if he refuses to redeem you, then I promise, as surely as Yahweh lives, I will.”

He held her gaze, certain and warm. A silent confession.

The smile that curved up her lips revealed the relief that melted through her bones.

“Sleep here until morning,” he said, and she nodded.

"Wait," Ruth added gently, breaking her gaze away from him. "You're not going to say anything."

"About?"

"About all this." She lifted his head to meet his eyes.

Boaz sighed, his skin flushing a light shade of red. He rubbed his beard, quiet for a long while. 

"I've never felt this way in all my life, Ruth. It's frightening and exciting  and..." he shook his head. "I think about you, a lot. You inspire new melodies in me— I play my kinnor and think of you. What do you want me to say?"

A silence settled, heated.

"What do you want me to say? I've been through much Ruth, you've seen...some of my scars, I've  fought wars, lost battles, endured unbearable grief, lived by choice a lonely life, because of it and if it was all, if it was all to get to you—" his breath caught in his throat, getting lost in the deep well of emotions in her eyes. 

"I'd do it all again." He affirmed, gaze genuine, and steady. "I've fallen in love with you, Ruth."

And as he said this, the tears trailed down her cheeks. She wiped them, heart squeezing, as the warmth overwhelmed her.