Reunion After Death - A Traveler's Encounter
The night was really cold yet undeterred the traveler kept on riding through the forest. He buried himself deeper within his shawl. The only sound he could hear was of the horse's hoofs. He kept on riding at the same pace until he reached a clearing. At the clearing, he could see nothing else, except an old battered house. It looked as if it was not inhabited for a long time. As he halted his horse and unmounted it, the scene of a battlefield flashed in front of his eyes. There were corpses lying everywhere. The field was filled with the moaning of the dead and the dying.
He quickly tried to erase that vile memory. He went near the door. For a moment, he thought of turning back, but he remembered his promise and decided he should not quit without trying. He knocked on the door. Another memory flashed in his head. This time it was his own. He was holding a dying mound of flesh. All the corpse could say was that he ought to give the message of his death to his family. He again tried to erase this memory. But it was harder than he thought. He knocked again. His hope was fast dying when he heard a sudden creak of the stairs. A ray of hope struck him.
He called out “Is there anybody there? I come for Ryan”. He waited another 5 minutes but there was no other sign of hope.
He turned to go disheartened when he saw a glowing light with the corner of his eyes. It was coming from a side window. He knew for certain now that there was someone. So he went back to the door and banged. He kept on banging until there was a slight movement of the door. The door then opened with a creak. Behind the door, an old woman was standing with a lantern. “I come for Alicia, Ryan’s wife”.
The old woman was silent. “Please, I need to meet her urgently.” he pleaded. “She doesn’t live here anymore”, the old woman said. “Who are you?” the traveler asked. “I am Ryan’s mother” woman said. “Oh Ryan. He has met a glorious end. He was slain in battle. His last wish was that his death be known to his family” traveler said.
The traveler saw a teardrop run from the eyes of the woman. Then, she smiled and said, “My child, at last we can meet again.” Before the traveler could say anything, the woman closed the door. He shivered. He couldn’t understand what the woman meant, but he didn’t care. He had kept his promise.
Yet he kept on pondering on what she said as he rode on. Then, he was shocked when realization dawned on him. He remembered that Ryan was an orphan from the age of 8.