#amony

Subject: Dealing with Life

Character: Amony, Rose, Landlord,

            The walk into town was cold and long. Amony had been doing this walk for years. It didn’t seem as hard as it did, a couple months earlier. That was around the time that he had his health and a decent job. Amony endured the tiring walk across the bridge into the small town, where he’d lived, every day. Usually, he was coming from job interviews. Amony had become incredibly broke to where he couldn’t even afford a bus into the next city. He never let the exhaust show in his face. Many people in his small town looked up to him for as a strong, decent, young man. He was only 30 but he had the soul of a 50 year old.

          “Hey, Amony. Did you get lucky, my brother?” The sheriff asked.

          “Not yet.”

          “I’m sure you’ll get lucky soon.” Amony nodded his head and continued on his way to the gas station. As he walked inside, embarrassment filled the room. There was his landlord. Amony sucked up his pride and walked right up to him, never losing eye contact.

          “Good evening, Amony.”

          “Hello.”

          “Where are you heading? The city.”

          “I just left from Asher.”

          “No luck?”

          “I don’t need luck. I have the lord. He’s going to bless me soon.” Amony’s voice was strong and firm. He felt the cashier peek over the news paper to take in the moment. Soon the whole town would know Amony’s business. Amony stuck his hand into his overcoat to pull out his only money.

          “Well, I told you. Today’s the last day. I hate to break it to you…do you have something? It’s only so much waiting I can do. You owe me 700 dollars. There are people lined up to buy this house.”

          “Sir, all I have is fifteen dollars.” Amony extended his hand, waiting for him to take it. The landlord stood there for a moment. He observed Amony. Contemplating. Amony could feel the man reading his thoughts, the cashier absorbing the scene.

          “Keep your money, Amony. You have five days. If I didn’t love your father, you would have been out. You’re a strong boy, though.” The landlord nodded and with a pat on the back he was gone. Amony stood there for a second.

          “God will guide me.” He whispered. With that said, he walked out of the gas station empty handed.

            The walk home was shameful. The word had spread around town, like the local prostitute. Amony felt their eyes stalking him as a shadow in the night. A part of him has wished he were not sick but the other part felt that God had a plan. The small cancer in his system was taunting him every hour of everyday, yet the townspeople were more concerned about how much he made. The constant treatment to kill the cancer in his system had got him fired a few months earlier. Nobody seemed to sympathize for him…and that was okay. A feeling of liberation overflowed inside him. He opened the door silently to his only home.  The love of his life sat before him at her desk in the living room. Rose. She was certainly a lovely girl who loved life. But sometimes Amony wondered…did she love him?

          “Hello, Rose.” His voice was soft. She was writing. Rose’s eyes never left the paper.

          “The landlord came to visit me today.” Amony stood in the open door way.

          “Did you speak to him?”

          “Of course, I did.” Amony closed the door and walked into the kitchen. He felt Rose behind him.

          “Well….”

          “Amony, I am sick of sitting on my ass. You need help! Why won’t you let me help you? All this stress on your back is going to kill you.”

          “You’re not getting a job. It is my job to provide for you.”

          “Yeah? Well, news flash: You aren’t capable of doing your job! What are you waiting on? Luck?” Amony’s hand came down on the table swift and tough. Rose jumped back in shock.

          “Why the hell does everyone keep saying that? Am I the only one with faith in this town? God has my back! You said those exact words when I got fired in December! Are you losing hope in God now??”

          “No! I’m losing hope in you!” Rose gasped as soon as the words came out. It was like a dagger to Amony’s heart.

          “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to be the man you want.” He leaned back on the corner and threw his hat on the table. Rose walked over to him and wrapped him in a warm embrace.

          “I love you.” She whispered.

          “Are you still in love with me?” He asked. There was a anxiety filled silence between them. Rose could feel his heart shattering with every second. Finally she uttered the words.

          “No….I don’t think I ever did.” He nodded. Amony looked down at the ground as tears formed in his eyes.

          “I always knew. I could feel it.”

          “I just…I just thought you were a different man. This illness isn’t for me. The struggle is too much...” He pulled her in for a kiss before she could keep talking. The kiss lasted centuries. Neither backed up for air. The kiss was the only thing that could shield the tension. The long, hard kiss. That night, Amony and Rose had passionate sex. Amony made love to Rose as if he would never see her again. Even then, Rose only felt the lust in his work and not the love.

          “Uhhhh! AHhhh!” Amony made her cum over and over that night. He thrust into her with all he could. It didn’t end until his muscles wouldn’t allow him to force his sex into her anymore. That night, he fell asleep with her head buried between his legs. It was Rose’s way of saying sorry for all that she had cause him but that wasn’t enough. All he wanted was her love. That morning, he woke up alone.

          “Rose?” No answer. He then rose out of bed and searched the house basement to attic. There was no Rose. Amony was getting ready to call the sheriff when he found the letter. The letter she had been writing last night.

          “Dear Amony,

  I am sorry for all the bullshit I put you through. If I felt as if I did not love you, I would have never pursued you. I’m a free spirit. Being tied down is one thing…but being tied to a ill person is worse. Don’t beat yourself up. You didn’t cause the cancer, obviously, it was something I had to do for myself. You see, I have been seeing the landlord for three months now. It has made me realize, he is my love. Once again, I am sorry. But that’s how life is right? God will guide you to good health and a good woman.

                                                                               Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight,