Chapter 39 - INSECURITIES
The night passed in a blur. Ruth was so tired that she didn't remember how she reached her home and passed in her bed. She woke up with the sound of birds chirping and the sound of seagulls that gathered on the dock to feast on the freshly caught fishes by the fisherman. The sun rose in the partly cleared sky scattering its rays on mother Earth.
Ruth was awake but her bed felt too comfortable to get out of it. She didn't want to leave its warmth and set her feet on the cold ground of her room. She turned from her side to face the ceiling of her room. She blinked twice to let the slumber go away.
Sunday... she had to get ready to go meet Thea and her fiancee Rees. A smile appeared on her face as she thought about them. She had never met Rees before but she had heard so many things about him from Thea that her relentless mind couldn't stop from creating an impression of him.
'I hope he is nothing less than what I think of him if not better', she thought while getting up to sit in the bed. She stretched her hands above her head as a long yawn escaped her dry lips. She twisted her upper body first to the left then to the right to hear the cracking sound of her bones.
Reluctantly she placed her feet on the cold ground and goosebumps formed on her skin. After taking a minute to get adjusted to the coldness she finally left her bed and walked towards the mirror that hung on a wall that was on the opposite side.
A frown appeared on her face for she didn't like how her long toffee brown hair looked like a bird's nest on her head. She tried to tame the traitorous locks that stood up with her hands but after failing for more than four times she just huffed and decided to wash them.
She finished getting ready in the next hour while humming her favourite tune. She wore a yellow dress that was better looking than the ones she wore every day as it was a special occasion. She had heard that Rees was not a judgemental person but she wanted to look presentable as they say that 'the first impression is the last impression'.
After getting satisfied with her look she checked the time and knew that she had to get going if she didn't want to upset Thea for being late. Ruth took some money along with her that she had saved recently. It was not much and Thea said that it was Rees's treat, but still, Ruth didn't want to take a chance.
After making sure that everything was taken care of and now she was ready to go, Ruth closed the door of her room then locked it. Meanwhile, her neighbours, the old couple, Mr and Mrs Payne who tried to help her with her landlord a few days back watched her curiously. Ruth turned to leave after locking the door when she caught their glimpses.
"Good morning, Mr and Mrs Payne!" She smiled widely looking at them.
"good morning, dear! You look pretty! Where are you going this early in the morning?"
"And that too wearing a nice dress? I am surprised that you possessed such a nice dress. Who gave it to you, Ruth?" That taunt dropped Ruth's mood. Her smile faltered then gradually vanished.
Mr Payne snapped his head in the direction of Claire, who didn't miss a chance to get on Ruth's nerves.
"You don't need to sound rude, young lady." He warned.
Ruth ignored the annoying girl and answered the old couple, "I am going to meet my friend Thea. She is soon getting married to her fiancee and she invited me to meet him over a breakfast."
Mrs Payne smiled. "that's nice! Convey our good wishes to her. And I hope soon we will get to hear the same good news from you too!"
The man nodded agreeing with his wife. Ruth's face flushed after hearing it but not everyone was enthusiastic about the idea. Claire who was listening to their conversation tsked. "I doubt she could get a good suitor for her. I mean who wants a poor orphan as a wife?!" She laughed as if she had cracked a good joke.
Ruth fisted her dress in her hands as she felt hurt at the comment. Truth be told, Ruth always had this insecurity about her and thought relentlessly about what would be her future.
She kept telling her heart that there must be someone perfect for her who would consider her perfect for him. Not everyone was pleased with the status and family background. There were people, who considered inner beauty as a criterion to evaluate people.
"Why don't you go and do your thing? Ruth is a mature and beautiful girl. She is able to make the right choices and holds a bright future. As neighbours, we should support each other. Don't you agree?" Mrs Payne chided Claire, giving a distasteful look but the young girl remained unaffected by her words.
Before the topic turned into an unlikely debate, Ruth took a leave of the old couple.
"I should get going now. I don't want to keep them waiting on me. Have a good day!" She said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She avoided looking at Claire and hurried towards the stairs.
"Yes! Have a good time dear!" Mrs Payne wished while waving goodbye.
Ruth didn't waste more time as she walked at a fast pace in the direction of 'The Baking Delight'. She tried her best to shut down the negative thoughts that resurfaced because of the taunts made by her young neighbour.
But the mind is an uncontrollable thing.. Ruth couldn't help but thought about her words again and again till she reached her destination.