She sat by the window stringing her beads. Black and blue. Black and blue.

Black for his soul. Blue for hers.

Once in a while, she’d look out of the window, smile, gaze wistfully, and go back to her task. Black and blue. Black and blue.

In the evening, they’ d lead her to her room. They left her alone most of the time. Didn’t ask her any questions. Understood that she loved him more than she did herself.

Sometimes though, there’d be tears. Sometimes, they’d come to her with demands. Sometimes, with threats.

Come on, get out. How long will you stay here?

Shall we buy you chocolate pastries?? Shall we go to the hills? Shall we take you to the sea? Look who’s here. Don’t you remember?

The voices would grow louder and louder until she couldn’t shut it out anymore.The next thing she knew the world was a sea of whirling faces, a bed from which she simply could NOT get up, and a high pitched scream that went on endlessly.

Then, silence.

She hated those days. But today… today, she was happy. Happy-contented.

She waved to them as they floated by in the sky. Beckoning. Go on, she said. I’ll come some other day.

You waiting for him?

Yes, she nodded.

All right. Do join us when he comes.

Yes, she nodded.

She went back to her beads. When she finished this, he would come for her. She knew it. She so knew it. Even if nobody else did.