Persephone and Lionel find solace and romance with each other
Author's notes:
1. This is a work of fiction. The activities and practices described in this story are not necessarily either condoned or recommended. If you choose to do anything described in real life with real people you do so at your own risk.
2. All characters are fictional and any likeness to any living person is purely coincidental. The story is purely imaginary and, to the author's knowledge, bears no relationship to any factual occurrence.
*****************************
"Now you're certain that nobody's answered the door for the past two days," said the Purser to the taller cabin attendant.
"Yes, certain. We've tried on many occasions but we have been unable to enter because the privacy latch is set. I've checked with the head waiter and they haven't been to the dining room in that time. It's not like they could go incognito; she's blind and he's quite ill with emphysema. How he cares for her I do not know."
"They probably look after each other," observed the Purser. "Ok, if you're certain I'll use my master key to free the privacy lock and we'll see what we find."
The Purser used the key around his neck to unlock the stiff privacy latch. He thought this was only the second time he had ever had to use it, the first time he had found the occupant lifeless on her bed. He hoped for a better outcome this time. At last the latch turned and they hurriedly opened the door and walked into the cabin before recoiling in shock. On the bed, lying beside each other, naked on the sheet, were the two bodies, obviously both dead for some time. Their faces were wreathed in smiles, their hands clasped together; in love, even in death.
******************************
Persephone had not been born blind; when younger, she was completely normal and had only noticed her sight deteriorating after she turned forty. The prognosis had not been good; she had an incurable disease that was affecting both eyes and was likely to be blind within a few years. She was a practical woman, not given to overly exuberant emotions. Her husband of twenty years had recently found a younger woman and the divorce procedures had been completed last Fall. Her only son was travelling the world, sending occasional posts on Facebook, but otherwise, as far as being able to take care of an aging mother, he may as well have been on Mars. Is this what my life comes down to, she wondered, alone and nearly blind at what is really only the mid-point of my lifetime? She carefully walked down the steep stairway, out onto the sidewalk and the few doors along to her favorite café, where she sat at her favorite table and was served with her favorite coffee by her favorite waiter. Being almost blind, it helped to have routines, she had found, but oh, the tedium of such routines. She allowed herself to daydream a little as she idly stirred her latte. Anything to break the mindless tedium of existence.
Lionel wheezed his way across the road, pleased when he reached the safety of the sidewalk. He leant against a wall for a minute or so to regain his breath, remembering his doctor's words about exercise being good for his failing lungs. "Sea air and exercise," were the doctor's last words as he left the clinic after being sent home to die. He stood up once again and shuffled his way the few steps to the café entrance, opening the door and stumbling inside before flopping into the nearest chair. It was only when he looked up that he noticed he was not alone, but was seated opposite a tall, elegant looking woman who was staring at him intently, disconcertingly.
"I'm sorry," he murmured between rapid breaths, "I didn't see you sitting there. I'll just catch my breath then I'll leave you in peace."
Persephone smiled at this stranger who was so obviously having problems breathing.
"You're fine just where you are," she said, reaching out her hand and placing it on his as it lay on the table, grateful for a change to her dull routine. "Just sit there and catch your breath. You are most welcome to stay."
"Thank you," wheezed Lionel, amazed that this elegant stranger would place her hand on his, but rather enjoying the feeling of once again being touched by another human being. It seemed so long since his wife had drowned in a boating mishap on their honeymoon. He remembered that he had been far younger and fitter then and they had been thoroughly enjoying their holiday, until that idiot boatman had capsized the fragile craft on the Zambezi, drowning several of the tourists. Not for the first time he wished he had drowned with his beloved Julie. With difficulty, he distanced himself from these morose thoughts and returned to the present. He looked more closely at his table mate. Those eyes; they appeared to be cloudy, not really seeing what they were looking at. Then he saw the white cane alongside her chair, and the reason for the strange eyes was clear.
"I'm Lionel, "he introduced himself.
"Pleased to meet you, Lionel, I'm Persephone."
"That's a very unusual and very beautiful name. Does it have any particular history?"
"Why, yes, it does. In Greek mythology, Persephone is the goddess queen of the underworld, the daughter of Zeus and the harvest goddess Demeter, and was married to Hades. Quite a name to live up, or down, to," she smiled a radiant smile in his direction, just able to see the chiselled planes of his cheeks. "So, does Lionel have any interesting history?"
"Not really, it's derived from Latin and means young lion."
"Well, it's lovely to have a young lion drop in on me," grinned Persephone.
The waitress arrived and took Lionel's order, while Persephone kept her hand on Lionel's, almost as though she was afraid he would leave. His coffee came and they resumed their conversation, keeping it light and general, both recognizing the other as a person with severe limitations, but mainly as a person with whom they could share experiences, their own limitations allowing them to overlook limitations in the other. They found they had a great deal in common; both were alone in the world, both had lost the love of their life, both were over the mindless boredom of routine and lack of any adventure.
"You know, just because we both have limitations does not mean that life is over for us. I used to live an active life, travelling with my darling wife, Julie, to many foreign lands. I see no reason why I shouldn't do that again. In fact, a long sea voyage would be perfect; my doctor even told me that sea air was beneficial."
"Yes, I also used to travel but now I cannot see well enough to do so on my own. We only met half an hour ago; would it be too forward to suggest that we could perhaps travel together?"
"If you hadn't suggested that, I was about to. What an excellent idea. Do you live close by?"
"Yes, just a few doors away. Would you like to come up to my place? I suppose you're thinking I'm being terribly forward in asking that question, but, hey, life's for living and this can be an adventure. I don't know how it ends; could be you're a murderer and rapist for all I know, but I'm willing to bet you're not and quite possibly a life lived together will be far happier than two lives lived apart. You willing to chance it?"
"Yes, quite willing, and I can assure you that I am not a rapist or murderer, so you're quite safe."
Lionel stood and stepped around the table to assist Persephone to stand and find her cane, then tossed a few notes on the table, winked at the waitress, took Persephone's arm and together they walked out of the café as the waitress watched, bemused.
By the time they arrived at Persephone's apartment, Lionel was gasping for air. What a pity there was no elevator in the building, they both thought. However, she had no doubt at all that he would recover. She guided him into a chair and sat in her favorite chair as she tried hard to watch him recover his breathing. At last he was able to gasp out a few words.
"That was hard work," he said, "A pity there's no elevator."
