Two lovers strolling on the busy pavement. It was all a normal sight except for the eerie silence.

Well, the man is the quiet kind while the lady is his opposite, full of energy, full of life.

Hence, while the man was simply being natural. The lady felt that the silence was too terrible – she knew him too well – she knew that this was unusual for her man of few words.

Always keen to shake him into reality, she queried, “What’s the matter?”

It fell into deaf ears.

Not one to quit easily, this time she nudged and queried him again — she got his attention.

He looked at her with troubling eyes and said, “This is the end for us.”

“What? What do you mean?” the lady asked shockingly.

“You must find another man. This is the end for us,” he muttered.

Confused, not knowing the reason for this sudden turn of events she exclaimed furiously, “Are you crazy? You can’t just break up with me like that! I’m planning to marry you! You better get your head straight, and tell me what’s bothering you — I can help!”

The man sighed. He knew that she can’t be placated easily. She is a straight-talking, determined yet sensible lady — the very reason he fell for her. He loves her deeply but he knew that this tie must be broken.

The path that he has chosen to embark on will be merciless not only to him but also to those close to him. He will not allow her to suffer from his decision.

Not wanting to delay, he answered, “Politics has cast its evil eyes on me.”

He looked at her intensely and continued, “My purpose is clear now. I have been thinking about the reason for my existence for too long. I’ve always known the answer but tried to evade the truth.

“I did not wish to get entangled in the twisted world but now I’ve stopped resisting. I am going to stop running away from what has always been evident. I was born for this.

“I am not craving for power…” he paused to let this sink in before resuming, “But if I stave this off, then I will die half the man I am meant to be.

“I need you to understand, this is where I could reach my fullest potential. And if I am only to face failures and die defeated, I know that I will still die a fulfilled man.

“My journey will be perilous; that is why we must go our separate ways…”

“What nonsense are you saying?” she interjected. But, deep within the crevices of her mind, she knew that this would come. She knew that he possesses the guile, the versatility, and the brilliance that will make him a formidable foe and ally.

And the time he spent with those party members; those louts. She knew that those fools will one day drag her man into their shameless existence.

Yet with all the signs, she was surprised. He was a child — too good to a fault. Not being able to reconcile the contradiction of his character with politics.

She voiced her doubts, “What makes you think that you could even survive among those wretched men?”

He turned towards her callously and uttered, “Because I can take a beating. My will is strong and I will survive at all cost.”

With that, with conviction, the man embraced his destiny to walk into the arena — hoping, praying that he will not turn into a devil.

As for the lady, well she will not accept a decision taken in haste.

Their destinies are intertwined. She was born for him as he was for her. With stubbornness, she will make him yield to the dictates of fate — for them to live together as one; each equal part of a whole.

Cover image by GR Stocks on Unsplash