THE SCARLET WOMEN

Story 1 - Death of Love

-'Nat, Nat…Emma, Emma…I started shouting and acting like insane. There was nothing left, not even the bodies to cry over. For that moment I experienced death without dying. For that moment I wished for a tornado or parting of this earth to take me away or swallow me and exterminate my existence. I felt like the whole sky has fallen over me and I was groaning in anguish. The scene was worse than mournful and there's no end of this wretched life.

-Why are you doing this to me? I can't bear your cruelty anymore, Oh God I beseeched you for your almighty mercy and you kept besetting me. Now I don’t put myself in the hands of you but instead, be the follower of devil. Now I'm a nihilist and nothing could demur my incredulity. Now I doubt theism and but you'll not doubt me being atheist. I’ll do everything not to lessen this inconsolable grief you put me through but swear death to them who took my everything away. The former is the reason why we should be very patient. The latter is why we should be very penitent when we are afflicted. He reminds him that trouble and affliction are what we have all reason to expect in this world. Man is brought into trouble not as a man, but as a sinful man, who was in the transgression. Man is born in sin and therefore born to trouble. I ain't just man anymore; I ain't just god anymore. 

I didn’t know where I was when I opened my eyes. All I could see some men and women around me. I guessed I just fainted and lost the solemn possession of my life by the same war which was started by me. I think father was just the victim of it but I was the one who put him through all those and let him grew more hatred towards this system who took away my mother. And over and over again I failed to see the future of that prophesy. But now I'm standing in the middle of it as lifeless.

-Don’t put more pressure on yourself. –a man of my age came near to me. Just don’t say anything more. Take a few more rests. -he said.

-Are you from the same village? –I asked him hurriedly. Do you know my Aunt Helen and Uncle Sam? Do you know where they are? Have you seen a woman and a child with them who were a few days ago to visit them? I asked him all in one voice. People around there surrounded me.

-Yeah, we knew your Aunt and Uncle. -he said with eyes full of tears. And we also had seen a woman and a child with them. But only we are left after yesterday's clash between those rebellions and armies. The whole village has gone away…gone away…that devil wind took away all of ours in a moment. We're sorry for your loss too. Was she your wife and child?

I just kept crying more with a pain in my chest and said nothing.

Mac was with me for the whole time. Most of the time both Mac and Sumi tried to console me but I could not help them when they both broke into tears. I didn’t want to live anymore but I couldn’t let myself die before I end the war I declared against god.

-Don’t inflict such pain over yourself,' –Mac said. Now we have to end this war. Now we have to fight against them.

-No Mac, No…I don’t want you to stay here anymore. –I said loudly. You must leave this village with Sumi. Just let me die here with my family. Oh, Nat…Oh, Emma…how could I let this happen to you all? How could I be such a coward?

-We'll never leave you. –Mac said. We’ll always stand by you, my friend, no matter if you like or not.

-Oh, Mac…Oh, Mac…why are you not trying to understand. –I hugged him. I don’t want the shadow of my cursed fate to fall over you and your family. Just leave me, Mac…Just leave me.

I stopped living my normal life. I stopped looking for anything in my life. Now there's only one reason left to keep breathing. If only you could see me, Nat, If only you could hear me, Emma, this father will come to see you very soon. For this time I'll not be late and keep you waiting. I'm still hearing your beautiful voice Emma; I'm still remembering our last kiss, Nat.

I never had known how a man's life could change in a blink of eyes. Everything was perfect in one blink and completely messed up in another. The scattered of me could never be whole again but I ain't trying to begin again.

-'Emma, Emma…you're getting late for school. –Nat was calling her while she was playing with her friends. Emma, you'll again make your father late for his work.

-No mother, now I know how to ride my new bicycle. Both father and grandfather taught me. Now I can go to school by myself. –Emma came running and climbed over me.

-You know Nat, now my Emma has grown. –I said looking at her. And one day she'll make all of us proud of being a doctor and helping her father at his clinic. Isn't she an angel?

-Yes, father, I'll help you with your patients and let you rest more often. I love you, father, for helping the wounded people.

-I love you both honey. I love you both. And I promise that I will always help the wounded ones.

There were tears all over my eyes remembering all of them. And still, I'm trying to help the wounded people but none other than myself.

I left that place without turning back. The home without family is no home anymore. I went to see Mac for once, might be for the last time.

-No, you cannot leave us all like this. –Mac said putting his hand over my shoulder. You cannot just run away from this life. You've to confront it no matter how hard it may seem.

-Oh no Mac, I already am dead. –I said. I don’t care about this life anymore. They're just one more thing left to do before I turn this mortal body into ashes and meet immortality again. My family's waiting for me and I don’t want to be late anymore.

-And ain't we family? –Sumi came outside hearing our conversation. Natalie will never like to see you like this. Emma will never believe that her father could hurt anybody.

-No…No…Sumi, please don’t say like that. –I said. We always are family and I can't lose anymore. But I've to end this war before it turns men like me more like them. I've to end this before the evil turns out to be the dictator of this part of the world.

I gave them the key to the house and left carrying more pain in this heart.