Loving Blindly

This fictional story was written for an English writing course at New York University. It was to be a story on creativity but turned out to be a sad story depicting blind obedience to a spouse. Loving blindly can be dangerous. We are to love but it shouln't blind us from ackowledging truth.

The Flood

Old Noah has been building an ark. Everyone laughs because there has not been a drop of rain yet. We ask him what is the ark for. He says it's a tool which will be used for the preservation of the just man and God's creatures. No one knows what he's talking about.

Well Noah has been building the ark for such a long time. He's been preaching of some out-of-this-world flood that will drown everything and everyone. He says God is going to punish us because we are living our lives the way we want to. Isn't that what life's about?

While Noah was busy building the ark, my family hosted a feast in honor of my wedding to my beloved Naman. I love him so much and am now bearing him a child. My life is just beginning. Who has time to think about dying?

I'm well into my 7th month now. I hope it's a boy so that he could make Naman proud. I don't know what kind of upbringing my child will have. I know I will try my best to raise him as a god-loving useful young child.

Everything seems to be in chaos around here. Everyone seems to do as they see fit. Jealousy, greed, perversion, and murder are everywhere.

Noah is more persistant than ever in his preaching. There are rumors that he's gathering the animals in pairs. Some have said that the animals did not even need to be guided but willingly entered the ark. I wonder why.

Naman says Noah is just a crazy fanatic and an old fool who takes religion too seriously. Well, I guess he's right because he is the head of the household and must know what he is talking about.

As I go into town, I see the ark completed. It is so huge that I gaze at it with awe. The old man Noah looks me in the eyes and asks if I want to save the life of my baby. I nod and he says the only way would be to go in the ark now. I tell him I can not because I would be defying my husband. Something inside of me tells me to go in but then I remember my loyalty to Naman. As I refuse, Noah looks to the sky and I can almost see tears in his eyes. He turns toward the ark and the door closes.

As I walk home, I feel a drop of water on my head. I can not believe it! I run home to look out the window. It begins to pour. All I can think about is, "Poor Naman! He must be getting soaked right now."

Well three weeks have passed now and the rain has not stopped. The water is rising dramatically. My home is ruined. Only the houses high in the mountains have survived. We do not know what to do.

Everywhere children cry. Mothers weep. Fathers cry out to a god who does not seem to hear them. Everyone who has been able to come to town have tried to cling on to the ark to no avail. Everywhere the name of Noah is called out to open the door but he will not listen. Many have already died in the attempt to swim towards the mountains.

As I try to hold on to the ark, I see children's bodies as well as animals floating by. I know I can not go on this way. I know I soon will die. I'm trying to fight for the life of my child. Oh Lord, help me!

Someone pulls me under the water as they try to climb on the ark also. As the water begins to fill my lungs, I see all that could have been but will never be. Why didn't I listen to Noah? Wasn't he a prophet of God? Where is God now? Is He listening?

As I ask myself these questions, I see Noah's face. It's as if he's reminding me that it was we who did not listen. We were given a chance but let it slip away; Just as my life is slipping away now......

-V.C.N.-