Chapter 7 - Page 89 - Jim's Promise

   Thamish asked if they slept comfortably, and Rhasha said that they had. Jim was afraid Rhasha’s parents might have gotten the wrong impression. He couldn’t explain fast enough.

   “Thamish,” he said, “all we did was sleep.”

   Thamish walked over and sat down in the chair. “Jim,” he replied, “if it wasn’t for you, Rhasha would not be alive today. I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.”

   “It was God who healed Rhasha, but you’re right, I would never knowingly hurt her.” Jim put his hand on Thamish’s shoulder. “Thamish, I want Rhasha to marry a young man and live a normal life.”

   Rhasha didn’t want to hear what Jim was saying. “You promised you would be with me every night until I said not to stay,” she protested.

   “Rhasha, I will never break my promise to you,” Jim told her, but he sensed she might be thinking of marriage. “If I were twenty years younger, I would be on my knees begging you to marry me.” Jim could see that Rhasha didn’t understand. “Sweet girl, I have no desire to leave a young widow behind when I die.”

   “I love you, Jim,” Rhasha said. “I don’t care about your age.”

   “I love you too, Rhasha,” Jim said, “but I’ll only get older.”

   Rhasha argued, “People lose husbands and wives every day. They don’t lose their love or their memories.”

   Jim was impressed by her wisdom. “Rhasha,” he said, “we can show each other love, but we can never get married.”

   Jim and Rhasha stared into each other’s eyes.