THE SCARLET WOMEN

Story 2 - Devil's Den

There's Julia for this time. I let her in and talked about the incident that happened before that night. I told her all about Mr. Christopher and how of his love my life has turned from insignificant to significant.

-I know,' she said like she already was there in my mind. So I'm here now to help you, Scarlet. I always had been with you since you started doing this. But I'm glad that now you've found somebody to stand by you in real. Sometimes love's just a delusion of grandeur but it still makes you feel more rational.

Julia was a quintessence of non-conformist and rebellion. I always have loved that part of her who does not like to be shackled in any of this society's false principles, tenets and conceptions build to confine her freedom. This was the same society who never recognized her unless she broke their general morals and principles. What she believes is in honor and integrity are just the words of righteousness that comes to us when standing above the morals of this society. She sees people so alone that they end up getting imprisoned in the realm of love which itself is alone trying to find someone to be a victim of it. Her philosophy of love is like exploring fantasy when we already know that it does not exist.

-Today I want to find myself again in that place by losing my conscience. Today I want to get high. –I said. Have you got that? Will you make some for me?

-Ah…I know you'll want it. –she said taking out a pack of cigarettes. I brought some booze too. Will you bring some glasses?

She started refilling a few sticks with it. It smells much stronger than before.

-So tell me something more about him and your dance classes. –she said while I was just standing there watching her.

-Oh, Julia, I wish someday you could come to see us. –I said pouring the booze in two glasses. Or even come to visit me at my dance classes. I want you to see me dancing like that.

-I already have seen you dancing at your show. –she said.

-What? You were there to watch my dance that night? –I said with bug-eyed. And why didn’t you come to see me then?

-I just don’t want people to see you with me at that time. –she said. But your dance was really marvelous. After a long time, your dance was something that made my eyes wet.

-Oh, Julia…Julia…you always are…I never could understand you. –I said sharing the smoke. What my life would have been if you were not there for me? What my life would have been if I'd not meet him? Now I believe everything's destined. I feel like I was a fountain and now I'm ocean mingling with you and him. We all are sacred by the law of divine and carry a holy spirit; indeed few times we did the unholy ones.

I started dancing to the tune of kef. We were laughing and drinking like addicts. Julia started touching me again. But I didn’t feel right this time.

-No…No…Julia please stop. I can't do this anymore. –I said pulling her hand out of my chest.

-Oh, my darling. My Scarlet, -she said in luring voice. We've been doing this all the time. There's nothing wrong about it.

-No Julia, this ain't the way you think now. –I said. Now this body and soul belong only to him. Please try to understand. I ain't feeling good about it anymore. You ain't know nothing about love and loyalty.

-You're right Scarlet. –she said. I ain't know nothing about love and loyalty. I'm a prostitute but you only are a lover. And prostitutes are made not for fidelity but instead for breaking it. Also, I never want to be a lover like you who can't have it all and be a slave of it. I already am a slave and I don’t want to be a slave anymore.

-I'm sorry Julia. –I said. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. But many things have changed. And I don’t feel the same as before.

-All you now see is what you're made to see by this love. –she said and started drinking more of that booze left in that bottle. But I know you want me to get out of this delusion. You've become schizophrenic.

-No Julia, all but love is a delusion. –I said. And I'm not suffering from schizophrenia but you are. Someday you'll realize it.

Always like before she already had left before I was awake.