I have not heard of a man die of love; but I have seen a disappointed lover grow thin. It happened a while a go when lonely John lay his eyes on pretty Sophie. The two had not been known to each other but they grew fonder of each other in a very magical way of love.
One evening, John was sitting in his chair, thrumming on the strings of the guitar. The guitar produced a very nice sound that seemed to calm the soul of old Regina, who looked fondly at the young boy_ admiring his skill. She always kept alone at home and during the weekend like that evening, when John had not to go to school, John gave her company. In fact, the two gave each other company, Regina was full of interesting stories, which could stir up John's joy. Every time she started with a phrase like, " Once upon a time" or " long ago..." John's ear was inclined, eager to listen with expectancy. Actually, he would become all ears for the old "girl".So, they would burst out into laughter at the funny jokes which John used to crack. They were happy friends.
From no where, John,s eyes caught a young beautiful girl from a distance. Her blond hair rose up with the wind that blew faintly over her head. She looked perfectly nice and attractive. John lost his head in wonders. He looked amazed at the young girl without uttering a word. He was sent into imaginations by just a mere glance of the girl.
" Hello!" She greeted him in a modern way of life. But the only answer she received from him was a smile. Was he just evasive to her? No, he had not yet recovered from his imaginations. He was yet in his own world, the one he was sent to by a strong ineluctable force of his senses.
"I am Sophie." Now John was awaken from his dream. He had not noticed already that Sophie was standing right before him. He grew nervous because she seemed to have given him a fright; he had not thought she was there looking at him.
Stammeringly, he said, "Hi",while at the same time lifted his hand to meet Sophie's. The two shook hands but John's was trembling. It was not because he feared girls as such but this one was different. She happened to change his attitude towards girls; Initially, John did not ever dream of associating with girls_it was the last thing he would ever think about. His heart was so cold and hard like ice.
" So you play a guitar?" She asked him with a smile on her face.
" Yeah, sure. I do."He answered and there fell a pregnant silence over them. None of them breathed a word for a fraction of a minute. In fact, even the environment became too quiet. Silence reigned over them till John broke it.
"Do you like playing this guitar?"
"Well, I do but I don't know how to do it.....may be you can teach me?"
"You really wanna learn? Count it done!"
John asked her to sit in a posture like he was positioned in and he taught her how to press the finguers on the strings. But she did not do it perfectly, John had to help her learn hoe to do it. So, he seized his hand to help her out. For a fraction of a second, he felt their softness. They reminded him of his mother's which sedatively cushioned him when he was still a boy nursing at his mother's breast. Now he rubbed his thumb fondly over Sophie's delicate fingers. She responded back to him with a smile. Then they played the guitar together till late into the night. He wished her good night and he walked back home.
He went thinking about that moment. He trod along with his shadow as the only company. It went following him with the same pace; never hurrying nor hesitating, but with the same speed he walked at. When he reached, he still thought about Sophie. He could not sleep, he wanted to go back to her. The night was to long. Morning seemed to be so far. But he had to wait.
When morning came, the sun rose from the east over the beautiful lake of Victoria. It cast strong yellow light of the water that the whole place looked beautiful. John had arisen before dawn and he was looking admiringly at lake. He stretched his eyes to see very far beyond the lake. There he saw sky touching the water, and the mist fading away by the sun. He drew some water in a pot and turned round to still see the beautiful nature. Now he made to move. The dewy grass washed his feet as he trod, balancing a potful of water on his head with accustomed ease. He always felt fresh after showering with the water from the lake. There was a way it seemed to calm the nerves and freshen the mind.
John totally changed over time. He started up a new way of life. He starting hanging out too often with Sophie. He had feelings for her, feelings he never had for any other girl. Even when he went to school, he would not keep there for so long. He made sure that he spent some time in the evening with Sophie. That was a must!
Time went so fast. Sophie's stay in Uganda had reached to an end. She did not have more than two days still. But she had to go back. That evening, John delayed to come. She awaited him for long but he did not show up. She sat alone in her favorite spot, where John always met her; But all in vain. She began to lose hope in John. Where was he? She did not know.
Yet John was on his way. He had had a long day at school. He had a lot of work to do. He had to do it before he left school that evening. But he had not forgotten about Sophie despite the work. Work alone could not deter him from seeing her. after he was done, he girded his bag across his shoulders and moved with haste to go to Sophie. Now, the sun began to sink low. His shadow grew longer and began to fed away. The only path he had to go through was a forest. It was the shortest route to Sophie's home. But the forest was scary. The trees were too tall like giants. They carried the whole sky on their tops. Nothing but silence_ frightening silence_ was there in there. But poor John had to man up. He had to show bravery and and bold up. He moved into the forest. Then he started hearing voices. He felt like someone was haunting him or a dangerous animal stalking him for his blood. Wind blew over the trees and they whispered back in frightening sound. Some branches fell and John ran away from actually nothing. He feared to lose his life but he could not step back. still, he wanted to see Sophie. Through every moment of fear that he went through, he still persevered and he reached.
On his arrival, he feared it was so late. He thought Sophie was asleep already and feared to awaken her. He thought for a moment and then he made up his mind. He trod though a narrow gate of Sophie's and he entered. Then he saw Sophie sitting alone. she was sitting bending her neck such that her forehead rested on her fists. Then John feared again. This time he feared to disturb her.
While he made to abscond, his shoes betrayed him. He stepped on a stone and slid over it. Sophie him and her eyes with expectancy. Her red blood lips twitched into a glancing smile. She ran happily after him and she fell into his arms, hugging him and squeezing him to her bosom.
"Oh my God! I thought you were not going to come"
"I am sorry." He apologized for being so late.
At that time, they looked into each other's eyes very admiringly. None of them said a word. suddenly, Sophie's eye's burst out into tears. They drained her cheeks and one drop fell on her lips which she dried over them. She was crying because she was going back to her country and that she was going to miss John so much. She did not want to live him behind. The too had been joined by strong ties that no one could ever break. John hugged her so tightly like he would never let her go. She, too, hugged him the same way. Now the two were too close too each other that their hearts began to speak a language that they could not understand. It was a command set between them. The warmth made John be drenched with sweat. It was as if he had began to fear. His heart throbbed so loudly that he feared other people would hear it. His heart beat for Sophie.
He looked at her and grew even fonder. He got much more closer to her and his lips touched with Sophie's. She had the sweetest mouth. Her lips dripped honey; She had honey underneath her tongue.
Up in the sky, the moon shyly hid in the clouds. Stars still spied on them, giving out that light that shone in Sophie's eyes, making them appear in John's eyes like they were stars themselves.
Now every story has an ending. Sophie flew back to her country and she forgot all about that experience. John remained as the only victim of their love. Distance took his lover and made his heart grow even more fond of her. "Time is devoid of shame." He thought. "Love makes time to pass and time makes love to pass." All that that joined him with Sophie broke and came to pass. He suffered loneliness till then. Sophie never came back again. She had gone for good. She sent him a message, "John. Thanks for the time in Uganda. I know it isn't gonna be easy but I din't think I love you...."
