The River

She danced in the moonlight, her hair flowing reflecting of the river close by. Her white dress glowed and made her look like she were an angel or some apprehension. He looked at her with love in his eyes. He had loved her for years and just know he realized why. She brought life to his boreing life. She was so full of bright exciting things. She spoke of the future like there was no way it could go wrong. She loved taking her shoes off and running in the grass and dipping her feet in the cool water of the river.

He was the only son of a hard man, a miner. Grit and hard work was his fathers motto.

"There is no place for dreaming or fun in this world" he would tell his son.

And there was hardly room for love either in his eyes. Love was a word he never used and its only function was to serve to fill ones belly and finish the days chores.

Isiah ( which was the boys name) had many a scar and bruise that showed his father comtempt to his version of love.

Isiah had known Imogen since he was a child and all that time he felt they were seperated by a gap that could not be passed. The gap of family background. But he still fell in love with her. He would go swimming with her in the river in those early days. Two children splashing around like two fish out of water. She had very little concept of what was proper for a girl to do. She would be naked and in the water within seconds with no thought to who was around.

As they grew her body developed into that of a young lady...but luckly so did her common sense, she no longer went skinny dipping with Isiah.

Not that there was anytime for Isiah to go swimming, as soon as he was able to bear any burdan he was working with his father in the mines. Pulled from school and basically out of Imogens life except for the random meeting in town at the local general store. For Isiah had the responsibity of cooking and cleaning as well as his regular work at the mine.

Now in there eighteenth year it came to pass that there was the yearly festival of lights an event that the whole town would attend. Isaiahs mind was racing, his heart was pounding. "Would his father allow him to attend?"

He approached his father to ask him. His father stone faced reading the local news looked up with a short glance and then returned to his litature

"Well" he said

"What do want you want?"

Isiah sheepishly uttered his first few words.

"well....ah..sir...

His father looked impatient

Isiah bit his lip stood up straight, gathering all the courage he had.

"I would like to attent this years fesitival of lights?"

His father looked in disgust at his son

"Why would you waist yor time on something so utterly useless as the festival of lights, It is just useless merryment for fools and drunkards."

Isiah looked down in dismay.

"But if you feel you must see what one of these festivals entail, go ahead, the sooner you find out how redicule they are the better, but you have to do all your chores and find your way into town, there is no way you are using my horse to attend such an event."

Well not only did Isiah do all his chores and work in the mill the weeks that followed but also earned som extra money by shoveling manure to buy a new white shirt and a good pair of shoes.

The night finally arrived and Isiah was all cleaned up and ready to go. He arranged to borrow the neighbors horse to get to town now all there was to do was walk out the door.

His father was sitting in his regular spot, his old wooden chair in the kitchen.

"Now where are you off to?"

"Well to the festival of lights father" Isiah replyed in a worried tone.

"Oh yes, I forgot that was tonight, go ahead then, but remember we work tomorro at 5."

Isiah walked out slowly, relived

"Oh yes, of course"

He walked in the door of the large hall where the fesitival was held. So many people in one place, but he just wanted to see one. He had not seen Imogen in two years, at there last chance meeting in the market, they were 16 then, two year later and they are both adults, and the antispation is at a high.

Isiahs eyes dart back and forth through the room, from face to face. Then he sees her, she is in the corner, staring right at him. Her dark blue eyes peirce right through him, Her lips slightly parted in a half smile.

He moves to her without the thinking. He meets her, his shoulder brushing hers as he walks pst and around her. He breaths in her scent. Smells like home! They cirlce eachother as if they are in a dance, barly touching. But it is enough for jolts of energy to pass between them.

There eyes are locked on each other. No one else is in the room now. They are utterly alone. There are not aware of anything but the moment.

She finally breaks the silent

"Come"

Her voice is like the ocean waves crashing against the shore. Its like a breaking wind. Its a beauty undefined.

They slowly glide towards the door.

Her hand extended towards him.

As they reach the door there hands meet. Slowly, first there tips meet, it is the first time they have touched in many many years and it is like a refreshing drink of water to a man dieing of thirst. There hands together now, soaking in the feeling of that togetherness.

They sit upon the grass, staring into each others eyes.

They talk all night till the morning light.

They part painfully.

He works, just about dies. (this story is not about work realted accidents)

His father is surprisly quiet about him staying out so late.

Isiah wants to break away from this life that has been made for him. He feels trapped! He is a man in love.

His father works him hard.

Isiah decides to ask his father if he may go and court Imogen.

On the way home from work, on the back of the wagon he broches the subject.

"Father may I ask you a question"

"Go ahead, no ones stopping you"

He sits in silence for a few moments, pondering how to phrase his question.

"Like most men my age, I look to get married and there is one girl...er rather.. young lady, that I am perticularly found of."

His father glances at him quickly out of the corner of his eye.

"And who would that be?" He asks impatiently, looking like he very much wants his son to just say what he has to say.

Isiah notices this and desides to just get it over with.

"Her name is Imogen."

His father looks over in utter disgust.

"That girl does not have one bit of sense in her head! She will not be able to cook, clean, she can barely keep shoes on her feet!"

Isiah looks straight in his fathers eyes.

"That makes no difference to me father. I love her and she loves me."

His father explodes.

"Love has nothing to do with marriage! Marriage is about sacrafice and hard work. Its about function!" He just about falls off the wagon, he is so animated.

He countinues. "Your foolish talk of love with get you know where, but poor and hungry! You can't marry that women I won't allow it!"

"Father..."

He gets cut off.

"There is no argument...your much too young to be getting married. You must work longer, gain some income, then you can think about it. But you marry a sensable women. End of subject!"

Isaih looked away in silence. There was no talking to his father when he was like that.

The time for talking is done its time for action