Risking All for Love (Wattpadprize14)

Chapter Nineteen

In their Bolahun refuge the love of Margaux and Gary grew deeper. Back in Monrovia it had never ceased to amaze Margaux that Gary loved her so much that he could sleep with her, knowing that she'd had sex just hours before.  He was steadfast even after Aziz had made her bed a some guy for a whole week. There in that crude Peace Corps house every time their bodies came together, their oneness in spirit grew. It was a harbinger of a happier morning in which they'd wake up together as husband and wife with her forced prostitution all but forgotten.

In Bolahun, there was no one to hinder their love. Fast fading was Gary's memory of indulging in hookers near Camp Casey, Korea.  It seemed like another life when he'd lived with a girlfriend.  Even then he knew it wouldn't work because something was missing.  As long as Margaux lay next to Gary, she forgot all the sexual ugliness that had been forced on her. Far from the brutality of Monrovia, the love between Margaux and Gary would flourish.

Margaux thought of her dear friend Lisa.  No matter how much Lisa loved David, they were not having sex over at his house across the road. It would happen soon enough, but Lisa was not going to push David. She told Margaux she wanted to be carrying David's baby when she went back to the United States to break up with her other David. David Dalman, who left her pregnant after their supposed romantic weekend in Monrovia. It was lovely that David Rasmussen had wanted her baby before she miscarried the first time.

Jen, who roomed there with Lisa, was sleeping with as many guys as she could before leaving country the next month. Felicia, they said, had previously been sleeping every night with her ears covered when Jen had company.

Early one morning, Margaux crowded next to Gary under the mosquito net and with a sheet over them. "Gary, never before have I been so happy as with you these last few days. Abed is brutal. How was it that you stayed with me? Yes, I was forced to do unspeakable things. Sleazy things. You knew that, but you love me anyway."

"Margaux, I love everything about you. I ran the whores during my army service. In Korea girls are also forced to do what they do, just like you. But before you came into my life, I was never really wanted by anyone. But there you were, the most kind, beautiful thing to come into my life. What does it matter if you came with baggage? I love you. How I hate what Aziz did to you. I love what Bolahun is doing for us. Although you never felt sick as such, you're healing, more at ease. We're made for each other. You're the right person for me. That's why I am here for you. When we get married, maybe we can live here."

"Oh, Gary, I would love that. Here I feel so secure from my far away troubles. Oh, Gary, you give me so much hope."

Over a couple of days Sam and Hilary, Gary and Margaux, and Lisa and David took day trips here and there to the more remote villages. They were moved by the kindness of the villagers, who tried to give them chickens and other things to eat, when they had very little for themseles.

Margaux and Gary visited Bolahun's medical clinic where Mother Elizaberth was beginning her sabatical, which was working in the clinic. She hugged Margaux and showed them around the clinic.

"Gary has time off between school sessions, and he wants to work here.  When I get extended time off, I want to help you too," Margaux said.

"You are most welcome." Mother Elizabeth picked up a stethoscope and gestured toward the treatment area. "We can always use help here."

On Sunday night they were all playing bridge when there came a faint metallic loud banging from the direction of Masambolahun, which lay a mile west of Lisa's house. The banging grew in intensity as it got closer.

"It's the Poro Society escorting the Bush Devil, or the Spirit of the Forest, who's coming our way," Margaux said. "He is said to fly over the rain forest."