The young maiden stood in the garden alone. She uttered a forlorn, dispairing
sigh.
She looked
up at the stars overhead and pictured him in her mind's eye. Tears flowed
down
her cheeks, as his memory rang clear.
She asked. "Where are you, tonight, my true love? Are you thinking of me
just the
same?
I wonder if you bear similar pain to that which is suffocating my soul?"
She bowed her head, shedding tears of agony that had built up in her like
a raging
storm.
She heard a footstep disturb the leaves that lay scattered on the ground
beside
the roses.
She looked up, as her heart lept with joy in expectation of seeing her
true
love,
but was alarmed to gaze upon the countenance of a non-human form in a cloak,
clutching
a scythe in his skeleton hands.
She stood
in awe, hearing the coarse whisper. "He is dead, and his love for you
still
grows. He wishes for you to be with him eternally. Take my hand, and I
will lead
you to
him."
The young maiden's eyes filled with tears, as she slowly extended her hand.
And as
the "Taker
Of Souls" reached for her, she suddenly heard the scream of her intended,
as
he ran
through the garden toward her. He saw the look of shocked horror on her
face.
It was too late. The clasped hands were interlocked..... and her soul forever
gone
from
the earth..... all for her will to be eternally by his side. He placed
his head in his hands
and wept
bitterly.
***There is a moral to this story : Never be late for a date..... just look what can happen!!!
(C) Copyright 2001 L.A. Sanders
