RINGS OF STRING

While the two were deep in thought, Susan's eyes broke their locks and blurredly stared at the image in front of her. A mild pain was in her chest and the pipe stuck deep in her trachea prevented her to say anything. Her limbs felt numb and she continued to gaze. A smile spontaneously formed on her eyes as she saw her only sons together.

Susan washed a pile of clothes that early Sunday morning and enjoyed the way the sun patted her softly on her back. George looked at his wife from the kitchen window and admired her efforts towards his family. He fancied her more through the years and knew quite well that without her he would be that lazy drunk with nothing but his bottles of cheap liquor. In the upper chambers, James and Zach lay peacefully curled to each other. She loved her children and prayed to God that they would always be one. She remembered the day he was just about to punish Zach for stealing sugar with paucity of evidence on his lips when James stepped in and acted as Jesus claiming that he was the one who offered him the sugar. She granted him clemency knowing it was all a cover up.

She remembered Christmas and how she gave them a gift they would carry not only in their fingers but hearts. Two string rings was all she gave them. Zach actually cried demanding a remote controlled robot car and a pair of trousers. George had laughed at his demands but he too didn't understand the symbol the two string rings had.

They were simple .Threaded from silk and nylon, with alternating red and black curls. Small parts bore blue spots which formed a love symbol. They were Shiny yet simple. Each ring was artistically woven with the brother's name; at some point Zach continued his drama by demanding the one with his name on it.

"I'm sorry bro." Zach's deep crying voice leaped out penitently. James sat still and evaluated the word that came from his younger brother's mouth. He foraged his eyes trying to figure where the words leaped from. "Sorry? Sorry for making me dead while still living? Sorry for sending me to hell? Sorry? Are these condolences for my own death?" This time a heavy pathological voice came from within him. His lips felt dry and heavy; he wanted to talk but his tongue lay dead. Zach's mind raced back four years back when he sat on the same table with James and Vanessa. It was in the East End Dating Bar and Restaurant. James had invited him to meet Vanessa; a woman he had heard of but had never met in person. They had been dating for almost two years and James was just about to pop the big question.

During the dinner, Zach's eyes had been dazzled by Vanessa's beauty; her long deep black laid back hair, light skin, slim nose, strawberry lips, gorgeous collar bones and full breast neatly set behind that Chinese silk dress exposing a bit of her cleavage. He studied her and within that one hour he wanted her for himself. He tried to thwart or even balk the thought but his emotions overpowered him; he was smitten. On the other side of the table Vanessa's devil also crawled within her and saw Zach as a debonair worth her time and company.

It was only six months later on the eve of James' wedding that the letter came in with his six-piece suit. The letter came in a brown old fashion envelope and smelt of a feminine perfume. He tore the tip neatly and aplomb.

Dear James,
It has been almost 3years now since we met. You have been an inspiration in my life, a corner stone in a life I once abhorred. Your love and care have me understand what love is and how to feel loved. You are a good man James and deserve someone better.
The words that I write come from me with great pain and tears run through my eyes with each letter. I am sorry James; God knows I loved you.
I have met another man and in him I feet complete and fulfilled. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but the thought of seeing you would have killed me. I'm deeply sorry James and please don't look for me. Sorry.
Vanessa.

"My sons," a weak voice came from an unexpected side of the room. "Mum!" they both shouted spontaneously just as they did years back. Shaking smiles made their way to both of their mouths and both of them held each of her hand inside theirs. "You're going to be okay mum. I did prayers just like you taught me," Zach's once crying voice carried hope. "We need you mum. You know we need you; God knows we need you" James voice came feebly accompanied by a stream of tears on his right eye. Susan forced a light laughter which sank her in to a painful cough. "You need each other boys. Es... especially now," she said in a weak dying voice and again came the cough. "I have seen your father in heaven, he is waiting for me and my time has come. I can feel it," she uttered with streams of tears gushing from her eyes.

"Don't say that mum please don...," "hush my son. "I have given you everything and above all I've given you each other," she cut James short and continued "do you remember the rings I made for you when you were young? Do you remember what I told you? Do you? I said even if you lost them they would be written in your hearts. Before I join your father I want you to promise me that you will love each other endlessly. I...I love you boys," she said with new strength revitalised by her emotions. The cough came again and this time it was deep, hoarse and life strangling. Death was seen in her eyes. Her muscles were now tight and James held her even tighter. She took a deep breath and held them both into her eyes. She coughed painfully and both of his children came closer to her as she closed her eyes momentarily to seep in the pain. The frequency in the life support machine dropped to 50, 40, and 10. The light in her dark eyes started to fade as her breathing became subtle. "Doctor, doctor!!" Zach cried towards the corridor. She did her last smile the same one done by the actors in a theatre performance.
James saw it. He remembered the same smile; the same one during the incident of rings. Then he remembered her words; words that would forever linger in his medulla oblongata. They seemed to have had their origin from the Bible but he couldn't recognize them. Tears journeyed down his cheeks in a splash. His heart ached and his chest became heavy once more. Her words came back to him; "As you receive these rings, you vow to always be together. Your brother is your better half and that is what will give me life; forever together and never apart."