What's love got to do with it? (Salome)

A rather severe twinge woke Salome from what had been a restless sleep anyway. Taking a deep breath, at least as deep as four broken ribs would allow, she slowly twisted her head looking around the room to satisfy her curiosity of where she was. She had been in and out of consciousness several times over the past few days, but this was the first time she had done so with her faculties also in tact. Looking around she saw the typical hospital room fare as well as the 'get well' booty often associated with an extended illness. Her recall was working well also she could recall quite vividly what has occurred to put her in her current surroundings.

A slight movement just out of her peripheral caught her fear, stoking her fear of a repeat occurrence.

"Rest well young one I'm not here to hurt you, I have been tasked with trying to help you with what has happened." the young lady said slowly walking into Salome's line of sight.


"Who are you?" Salome asked already put to ease by the sing-song lilt in the woman's voice.

"I'm a friend of a friend."

"Have we met?"

"Not yet." she smiled as she pulled up a chair closer to Salome's side and sat down.

"How long have I been here?" Salome asked, her instincts telling her she was not in any danger.

"Four days have passed since you were attacked."

"I remember everything, do you want to take my report?" Salome asked fishing for the true reason the beautiful lady was in her room.

"I'm not with the police, but I would like to talk a little bit about what happened. Are you feeling up to it?"

"If you're not a cop why would you want to know?"

"To help you know."

"What does that mean?"

"Salome that man was prepared to kill you, you did not matter to him. When he asked you a rather easy question to answer you refused. Why?"

"I wasn't any of his business who my fares are."

"So you refused out of loyalty to the millions of fares you've transported over the years?"

"Well...yeah, that and..."

"Go ahead Salome you can say it."

"Say what? What do you mean?"

"Would he do it for you?"

"I'm not sure, I mean he and I just..."

Salome then realized that there was something very different about this girl, something that told Salome she could be trusted...with anyone's secrets. The understanding, the...love that seemed to radiate from her orange-yellow orbs. A warming light that made Salome feel safe and almost allowed her to revel in the love she so badly wanted to feel and know that was felt for her.

"Do you love him Salome?"

"I can't." she whispered.

"Why can you not? Does he need to love you back?"

"I doesn't matter whether he does or not. He can't have that kinda shit hanging around his neck. It'll weigh him down like an anchor."

"So if he loves you, you can love him but if he doesn't you can't?" she asked scooting a bit closer and taking up Salome's hand into her own.

"No one would ever love me so I don’t worry about that.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not worth loving?” she replied the tears coming easily as this was a thought Salome had often resulting in the same outcome for her.

“Salome that is not true. You are as deserving of love and as capable of feeling it as any of us. What you do or what has happened to you has no bearing on love. We love each other not for those things we all know about but instead for those things each of us sees only when we look into a mirror. What goes unseen is what matters not the other way around. Love can not be turned on or off when you feel it is because that person gives you something you need, the more they give you the stronger that love.”

“Who are you?” Salome again asked marveling at the comfort and peace talking to this strange young woman gave her.

“I am a messenger.”

“From whom?”

“Worry not the messenger, but heed the message. You are loved Salome and you can love as well.” With that comment the stranger gently brushed her lips across Salome’s forehead causing her to fall into a peaceful, restful sleep. Her slumber easy and refreshing, many of her personal demons having been put to rest.