100 theme challenge

20. Fortitude

"Look at her," a woman told other women. "I really admire her. She is a real fighter. Life alone while working on her own catering business, in a busy city like this, can you see how dedicated she is?"

"A real fighter indeed," another woman said. "But why a beautiful and humble woman like her live alone in this city? Doesn't she have a husband?"

"I heard that she had a husband once," said another woman. "But he divorce her,"

"Really? But why?" said the first woman. "She seems like a good woman. Well, I never saw her in something slutty like one of my neighbors usually wears,"

"I don't know," said the other. "It must be something about gold,"

"Or maybe she was the one who divorce him,"

"Right! Maybe he was a violent drunkard, or a gambler,"

"Or maybe a player,"

"Or maybe... one of them was cheating," said the first woman. "Think about this. That beautiful young woman must be popular among men. And let's say that her husband was a sociable person. He loved to gather around with his friends and colleagues, and love to throw parties. It's normal if one of his colleagues fallen in love with his wife and made an affair,"

"Oh my God! Is that true? Where did you hear that?"

"No, I said think about it. There is some possibility that one of them were cheating," said the first women again. "But really, if that was the truth, then I think she is nothing like her appearance,"

"indeed," said the other. "Let's don't judge a book just from its cover,"

"I agreed,"

***

"The city housewives were talking about you again," a shadow-like creature was walking behind her, keeping its pace in her rhythm as she walked down the street. "Aren't you worried?"

"About what?" asked her silently, trying not to draw other attention by talking openly to something that they couldn't see.

"About rumors they made about you,"

She stopped on her door, took a small key from her pocket and unlocked the door. Inside, there was a comfy small living room with a small fireplace and a nice bookshelf beside it. She took off her scarf, turned on the fireplace, and head to the kitchen when she prepared something simple for dinner.

"You haven't taken off your coat yet, Master," said the shadow-like creature calmly. It stepped into the room and his shape started to form. He walked across the room, following her into the kitchen, and started to help her with her dinner. "But really. The rumors become crazier lately. I think you should keep your eyes on that noisy mother and her friends,"

"It's ok," she said, giggled a little when she hang her winter coat and put it in the closet. "Tomorrow, they will be ready to feed the whole city. Let's consider it as the fruit of their karma,"