Blinded by Love's Glow

Y and J were from a small hillbilly village in Egypt during the late Renaissance, two quiet young adults set in their daily routines with little idea about the journey that was to follow. They had known each other for many years without ever much interacting, until one day in January when fate intervened as the two of them decided to take some of their spare time to grab a few drinks. One thing led to another and the atmosphere quickly shifted to an intense thrill, a flirtatious one-time casual tryst that would be forever remembered by both. Neither of them took the necessary precaution of a condom and the waves of passion soon caught up with a degree of gravity.

Some time passed and eventually J learned that she was carrying a baby in her belly, one that was not borne of her fianc. Heavy of heart and body, she made the hard choice to keep the grave secret to herself and bear the burden of responsibility with which the unborn child came along with. Back and forth between Y and J the two were in the difficult position of having to share the results of the night's shame and the powers government forces upon its citizens.

Though their relationship remained strictly platonic throughout this endeavor, it seemed that an unavoidable connection had been created out of the events. As months followed and the wedding day of J's fiancé drew nearer Y and J faced the greatest challenge yet part ways as if nothing had ever happened or bare the uncertain truth of their affair. Just days away from the date of the false marriage, Y and J finally allowed themselves a moment of closure and understanding; a prospective epiphany that the consequences of their own choices would irrevocably affect those they loved the most.

And thus, it all came to pass. On the wedding day itself, J found herself surrounded by her loved ones, forced to parade false happiness in the name of her unborn child and her stolen shame. Unbeknownst to herself, Y was also among the guests, clandestinely watching from afar, wishing for a sign from him that could give her some peace of heart. But there was nothing, neither word nor deed, as he knew now that the consequences were not his to bare and the only farness he could manage was the honourable distance that love could manage to provide.

At the end of it all, though the gravity of Y and J's relationship remained unrecognized, there was still a beauty in the silence that celebrates life above spoken words and turmoil. And then, the fireworks. As if sent from the heavens, the atmosphere was drowned in myriad sparks of joyous harmony that shone brighter even than the summer night sky. Y vanished like a whisper in the night and in his wake, J was left with the eternal ripple of what was, what could have been, and what lies ahead.