Our volition, we thought, would keep us for each other.
Meandering became a path of shudder.
The world of deviation inside us and sky,
Transparent as clouds, believable as our sigh.
*
How can God create tormented miracle?
How one worships him in this webs of hell?
Meandering, you may look back to neither
Past nor future, for all paths are bitter.
*
The cure for healing in in dying, they say.
How can I rescue me from my dark, isolated day?
Together we were, now one is lost.
He must be inside of me, what a great cost!
*
Steve dreaded to frighten the obscured shield of Anna's beauty and grace; but Anna manifested with her expression and action that she was not scared and that she understood the fact that she had become a woman. His slightly force tone of voice was affectedly positive. He said that he was happy that they were married. She did not have to struggle any more for things to happen. To him, they had made a mark, a beautiful one in their joint lives. Thus, she thought a little different. For her life could not be an exhibit of time. But it did not matter what they thought. For both of them, what had happened in that hotel room was a sweet discovery, a finding of a special pleasure for the inexperienced Anna; and for Steve was being able to teach Anna the pleasure of love making.
In that cold January morning, they went out to the street filled with people, who were nameless to them. The azure, expansive sky reflected its colors of brown and blue on trees. Beyond, enfolded with clouds and sparkled in the mist, was standing the city. It was the same city Anna had known for a long time; however, she was a new and different person that morning. She was giddy yet vivacious, dependant yet responsible. Her eyes widened and she exhaled a long steam of delight to see the best of the nature in the city on the first day of her married life, and on her twentieth birthday. That morning was different than any morning she had known in her life.
Shahzdeh and Fatie left Three days after the wedding. It was three intense days for both Anna and Steve because they asked Anna's parents to stayed with them in their apartment rather than hotel and they accepted it.
Steve's reserve manner and Anna's shyness prevented them to be affectionate in front of her parents. Nonetheless, Her mom's wonderful cooking and her dad's spoiling her brought back so many fond memories of the past. Stacy and Charlie came for dinner all three nights. When her parents left, she wept. Surprisingly Steve and Stacy wept, too. They loved Anna's parents as they were their owns. One thing happened in those three days was they started calling Anna's parents mom and dad upon Shahzdeh's request. Even though It sounded odd the first time, it became normal after that.
Soon, life was back to normal. Anna busy with work and school, and Steve busy with work and getting ready to take the bar exam. He had finally finished school before their marriage. Anna was overwhelmingly happy that her husband would soon leave CIA and would become a lawyer. As a matter of fact Steve, himself, was looking forward to it, too. Anna was certain that he would pass the bar exam.
Every evening Steve helped Anna to prepare the dinner. That was one of the joy they shared together. At night, they showed their love for each other passionately before falling asleep. Every Saturday they went to their favorite Italian restaurant and to a movie. On Sundays they stayed in bed till late in the morning, sometimes noon. They talked, made love, and talked more. Every Friday Stacy and Charlie came for dinner. Charlie had moved in with Stacy and gave up his apartment. Everything was so pleasant that Anna laughed at her fear before their marriage.
In the evening, after dinner and cleaning the kitchen together, Anna played the piano. All her notes were brought by her parents. She acquired more notes of great classical music she and Steve loved; and soon she was able to play them without mistake and mostly by heart. Steve loved to sit on the sofa, smoke his cigarette and watch her play the piano with her fine fingers.
The morning that Steve was to take the bar exam, he was nervous, just like when he had been a little boy; but his wife's kisses and kind words were in his mind the entire time he was taking the exam. Her passion and kindness had erased all the anxieties from his mind. That evening he was calm.
"How did you do?" Anna asked.
"Great. I am very hopeful." He responded.
"When will you know the result?"
"Perhaps in a month or two."
It was only a week left before they would take their honeymoon trip to Hawaii. Both were excited and could not wait. Steve had been in Hawaii once before and talked lengthily to Anna about the beauties of the islands. Anna made a list of what they were taking and began packing a week before.
"It's too early to pack, sweetheart."
"We may forget something. No, it's not to early."
"You're very excited for this trip." Steve said while caressing her hair. They were sitting in the sofa. Anna's head was on Steve's chest. Steve's hands were inside her hair and sometimes into her blouse in her back.
"yes, I am very excited. To be with you alone in the islands. Oh, I can't wait." By this time, they were kissing and exciting each other.
It was a long, tiring week, the longest week Anna had known. She read the book "HAWAII" by James Michener again this week; and pictured herself and Steve in those islands as they had come to existence according to the author. Steve watched his wife's fervor and was pleased and content. His knowing glance gave Anna confidence. They had been two that now were one in the body of love.
The morning before their departure was promising and rich. It was Sunday. Anna left their apartment late in the morning to buy a few more things she thought they might need for their trips. Steve was still in bed, mesmerizing and savoring their love making.
Next to her car, in the parking garage, she noticed two men she had never seen in their apartment building. They had dark sunglasses on in the dim parking garage. They both had green, army jackets with blue jeans on. Anna suddenly shuddered when she noticed they were looking towards her, so she thought. She got into her car and drove up to the store. She eyed the rear view mirror, thinking they were following her; but they were not. Who were they? Why did they look at her? It was cloudy and beneath the dense marquee of naked trees, she took a glimpse of blue patches of sky amongst the white cloud. The commencing sun ridiculed skyline with its orange and red wink. The effect of the two man in the parking garage staring at her, she was sure of it, even though they were wearing dark sun glasses, remained in her mind. She just could not forget them. There was something about them that had shivered her then, and shook her now.
To Be Continued
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