A MAZE OF GREED

Since the beginning of the day, Ruth felt restless for some reason. After the nightmare last night, she couldn't go back to sleep. After keeping turning and tossing in the bed for hours, she decided to start her day early.

It was early in the down, just before the sun began to rise from behind the horizons. Her small room felt suffocating, and to breathe some fresh air- she opened the window of her room.

The morning breeze came crashing on her face as soon as she opened the window to let in the air. Her toffee brown hair danced along with that breeze. Her eyes had bags under them due to lack of sleep.

She glanced around her surroundings that were not fancy. But over the years of stay here, she had got used to it. She was about to turn away from the window when her eyes caught the glimpses of two figures hurriedly moving near the corner of the alley.

She narrowed her eyes in curiosity, but before she opened her eyes after blinking them, the figures had disappeared.

Sighing deeply, she ignored it and started sweeping her room before taking a bath. Ruth took her time to get ready. There was no rush, no excitement.

These lacklustre days had become her companions recently. She had no rush to meet Thea or plan another Sunday breakfast with her and Rees. She didn't need to leave ten minutes early because Florence would stop her, and they would end up talking for twenty instead of ten minutes.

She had no one to talk to, to walk along, to spend time with. She had lost everyone who she called her 'friend'.

The only support she had in these difficult times was Mr and Mrs Payne, her old-aged neighbours.

Before heading to Mr Cooper's shop, Ruth visited them for the last couple of days. Mr Payne had caught a fever and couldn't do the daily chores or go to his job in the lumber factory.

Ruth was managing everything like bringing the medicines, groceries, vegetables or any help that the couple needed. She thought that Mr Payne would be well after some rest and regular doses of medicines that the local physician had recommended.

But to her dismay, his health didn't recover the way it should have. The physician had told that his warned out body and old age were the reasons that the medicines didn't affect the way they act on a younger person.

Ruth had not told that to Mrs Payne, yet to not make her worried than she already was.

In the next few minutes, Ruth stood at their doorstep to knock on the wooden door. After some moments, Mrs Payne opened the door with a tired face and red eyes.

Ruth noticed her exhausted state but didn't point it out immediately. "Good morning, Mrs Payne!" She cringed inwardly at the 'good morning' wish when she knew that there was nothing good about these mornings and the old lady might not have slept the whole night.

Mrs Payne blinked twice as if she had not recognised Ruth, then only nodded her head in response. "Come in, my child."

Ruth followed her after closing the door behind her. Mr Payne lay on the shabby mattress, his body covered with a blanket and white wet cloth on his forehead. His eyes were half-closed, and Ruth couldn't guess if he was sleeping or not.

"How is he now? Has the fever fall during the night?"

Ruth checked his fever last night, and it was considerably high. Mrs Payne gave her husband the medicines, and to lower the heat, she placed the white cloth dipped in saltwater on his forehead.

Ruth prayed that his fever would lower during the night, but her prayers had gone unheard by the almighty above.

Mrs Payne's eyes teared up in an instant that broke Ruth's heart. She stifled a sob and answered in a croaky voice. "No, dear. He is in and out of consciousness since the last night, and nothing is working."

Not able to contain the pain in her heart, she quickly dashed into the kitchen. Although the two rooms were separated only by a thin wall that did nothing to obstruct the sound of her sobs, the old lady felt the need to not show her vulnerability to ill her husband.

Ruth was quick to follow her and hugged her trembling figure in her arms. Her eyes were misty with the unshed tears, but she couldn't show them a way to appear on her face. She needed to act strong for the two people who she considered as her family.

"Ruth, I-I don't know what to d-do anymore. I am trying everything in my power. I am... taking his care as much as I can. But... but nothing is working. He was supposed to be well by now, but, instead, his h-health is deteriorating day by day. W-what should I do, Ruth? W-what should I-" The last words remained unsaid as another loud sob defeated them.

Ruth kept rubbing her back while trying hard to hold back her tears. "Shhh... please, Mrs Payne. Don't cry, please. We are trying everything, and if it takes, then we will call another physician. But we will not fall weak in this situation. Mr Payne needs us, you.

He will not like it if he gets to know that you spent days and nights while crying and in sadness."

Pulling away from Ruth, Mrs Payne looked at her through teary eyes. "I-I know. I am telling this myself over and over. But every time I l-look at his weakened form... I- I lose every hope."

Gulping down her saliva, Ruth put her both hands on the lady's shoulder. "I know. I understand. It hurts me to see him this way. But we have to keep trying, Mrs Payne. I am sure he will be again back on his feet and kissing you to his heart's content." Ruth tried to cheer up the crying lady.

Shaking her head, Mrs Payne was about to object, but Ruth didn't let her. "Please, Mrs Payne. Trust me! I will not give up on my hope."

Mrs Payne's face morphed into guilt. The wrinkles on her face deepened. "I am sorry, Ruth. You have just started a new life but... all your money is draining in taking care of two old people."

Her voice was filled with remorse and a silent apology. Her words twisted Ruth's insides.

"What are you saying, Mrs Payne?! By saying such words, you are separating me from you both. You only told me that we are family. If I was your own child, then would you have said the same thing?"

Mrs Payne's eyes widened. She shook her head. "No, my child. I didn't mean it in that way. You are doing as much as our own child would have done for us, if not more. You are our family, our little princess and you know how much we love you.

I just-I just feel guilty that we can't do anything for you when you are doing so much for us. These two old people have become your liability.

Ruth, you are a young and beautiful woman. You just have started earning and now you need to get married to a responsible gentleman. And here you are wasting your time, money and efforts on two helpless people."

Ruth stared at Mrs Payne for a moment. She knew whatever she had said was not out of a mere courtesy or formality. The old lady meant every word that she had said. If Mr Payne was awake then he would have said the same thing.

"Mrs Payne, you are not a liability for me. Whatever I am doing is my gratitude towards you and also my responsibility. I am doing this willingly. You or Mr Payne never came asking me for doing any of this but I still do it because I only have you both as a family in this world.

After my mother, you both were there to fill that loneliness, to guide me, to care for me. You have done that everything that my mother would have done for me and now it's my turn to show you that I am the daughter you always needed and deserved.

Please let me do it all. I promise I will not disappoint you. When my mother died I was helpless and didn't know what to do. But now, I know I can take care of both of you. Please, let me do it, Mrs Payne!"

The tears that Ruth had held until that moment now flow freely on her face.

"Oh, Ruth. My child, my daughter! I love you, darling. We both love you dearly. May God bless you and send a fine man to love you. Our blessings are always with you, dear." Mrs Payne again hugged her, smiling through her tears.

Both ladies sought comfort in each other's arms for some moments when the sound of coughing broke their hug. Quickly they both again went outside to see Mr Payne coughing loudly.

"Oh, dear, there there!" Mrs Payne was instantly beside her husband to rub his back as he kept coughing loudly.

She made him sit upright, worry itched on her aged face.

Ruth brought a glass of water to offer it to him. But his shaky hands were too weak to hold that weight. Crouching down in front of him, she neared the glass to his mouth and the old man sipped some water in between the coughs.

His pale face had turned a dark shade of pink, the tip of his nose red. A layer of perspiration glistened on the lines on his forehead, the brim of his eyes filled with moisture.