Love and other calamities

September, 2013

September, 2013.

Ruth sat on a large boulder as she watched Benny run around the field. The way his arms were open wide on either side of him, just like that of wings of a plane, and his lips were pushing engine sounds out of his mouth, he reminded her of her younger self. His long auburn hair blew in the wind and Ruth made a mental note to remember to tie his hair up.

"Not too far Benny," she shouted across the field at the energetic five year old.

He spun around and gave her a large smile. "I know mommy." He turned back to face the large field and continued to run around as he pretended to be like the planes they often saw in the sky.

"Mommy, why doesn't daddy ever come to the field with us?" Ruth looked alongside her at her youngest child. Terri had gorgeous sunflower hair like her father Jebediah. Her eyes were wide and an honest brown that melted her heart. One good thing to come out of her arranged marriage to Jebediah were Benny and Terri; two beautiful children that she loved with every fiber of her body.

Ruth smiled at her daughter and ran her fingers through Terri's hair. "Daddy doesn't know about this place sweetie."

The three year old frowned, "Why not? I think he'll like this place. There's so much space to run."

Ruth chuckled at the logic of her daughter. "This is my special place and I only want to share it with you and Benny."

She nodded, "This is the place you told me about right? It's your special place you shared with your friend."

Ruth pushed the sudden lump in her throat away and prayed her tears wouldn't come. Seven years have passed and she still found it difficult to think about him. "Yes Terri. This is the place I shared with my friend Elijah."

"Can I meet him?" She asked.

Ruth shook her head, "I'm sorry sweetie but you can't. I don't know where he is."

"Why?"

"He ran away from the community seven years ago, the night before I married your daddy."

"Why did he run away?"

Ruth looked away from Terri's curious eyes and looked across the field. Not much had changed over the years. The grass was still long in the summer time and the trees were tall and green. It wasn't anything special to look at but, it was secluded and filled with a thousand memories. This used to be the only place she and Elijah could escape to when they were younger, it was the first place they danced together and the last place she held him.

It was the only place where she was truly happy.

"He loved me Terri and I loved him. Grandfather wanted me to marry your daddy and it made Elijah sad so he left."

Terri frowned before crawling into Ruth's lap. "You always tell me to never leave when I'm sad."

"I do and it's because I don't want you to leave like he did."

Terri cuddled into Ruth's side and wrapped her small arms around her waist. "Do you miss him mommy?"

Ruth blinked frantically as she tried to hide her tears away from her daughter. She wrapped her arms around Terri's small body and held her tight against her. She let her chin rest on her daughters' head as they sat on the rock watching Benny play carelessly.

"Every day," she whispered. "I miss him every day."

#

The trio got home late that evening, Benny insisting that they visit the lake behind the trees. Ruth knew that Jebediah would be furious but, the happy grins on her children's' faces was worth the beating she knew she'd get. After putting the children to bed, Ruth had slowly walked towards Jebediah's office, her body rigid with fear.