Story: " Desire Out Of Necessity"

Once upon a time, there lived a hard working man named Ashleigh Alexander, who desperately wanted to find a good woman and get married. He longed to have the kind of relationship his parents' have. His parents feared for their son and warned him that many women would want to marry him for the wrong reasons and may seek to deceive him. Ashleigh was a man of stature and wealth. He worked hard because his parents taught him that a wise businessman will work alongside his employees. Ashleigh stood to inherit a substantial estate beyond his self-made wealth. Ashleigh took his parents warning to heart and listened to the characteristics they thought Ashleigh should look for in a potential wife. Although Ashleigh's parents realized he was looking for a beautiful wife they begged him not to be fooled by attraction. Look for a woman who is independently happy and can support herself. If she does not desire you out of necessity, she will want you to desire.

Ashleigh soon discovered that his parents were right, many women wanted him. Unfortunately few women matched his parents criteria. Ashleigh attempted to court several different women, but those who were happy lacked independence, and those who were independent lacked beauty. Ashleigh was starting to feel like he would never find a wife. He met his parents for dinner to discuss the matter. As they talked a woman named Alex could not help but overhear. She could hear the sadness in Ashleigh's voice as spoke about his desperation to find love. Alex knew what it was like to long to have someone. She had been in love before, but she had never married. Ashleigh noticed that Alex kept glancing at him. When his parents excused themselves for the evening, Ashleigh approached Alex. She invited him to have a seat at her table. They talked until the restaurant closed, it was as if they were old friends catching up.

Beautiful Couple

photo

Ashleigh let Alex do much of the talking. He was careful not to discuss anything that would allude to his status or wealth. Alex seemed to glow as she spoke about her life. She loved her job and seemed to be a brilliant stock broker. They each discussed their goals for the future and began to think the other held a place in that future. Ashleigh took a long look at Alex and thought this is it. Alex is beautiful, happy, and independent. She does not desire me out of necessity so she will want me out of desire. Before Ashleigh knew it, he was asking for Alex's hand in marriage. Alex was surprised to hear herself saying yes. Ashleigh kissed Alex goodbye as he rushed to tell his parents of their engagement. His parents were suspicious of any women who would agree to marry after only one encounter. Ashleigh assured them that Alex was both happy and independent. They could see that their son was truly in love and they were happy for him.

Ashleigh and Alex spoke every day, but did not see one another until their wedding day. The church was decorated beautifully and Ashleigh could not wait to see his bride walk down the aisle to him. Everyone was in their respective places as the music began to play, but Alex did not enter. People began to chatter among themselves in curiosity. Ashleigh's parents looked at him with a disapproving stare. Ashleigh thought to himself, I know Alex. She would not leave me standing here alone without just cause. He walked outside to get some air and saw Alex at the bottom of the church stairs. She was setting in a wheelchair, something she never mentioned as the sat across from each other the night they met. Alex said I wanted to tell you, but I did not know how. I did not want you to think I needed you. Ashleigh wiped away her tears, picked her up, and carried her to the end of the aisle. It is I who need you, Ashleigh said. (707)   

Author's Notes:

My story is inspired by the "Blind Man." The young maiden was taught what characteristics to look for in a potential husband. A blind man who overheard these characteristics made himself appear a good potential husband. The women, not realizing he was blind, accepted his marriage proposal. Several things occurred that seemed out to the young maiden, but the blind man always offered a plausible reason for his actions. The young maiden's father suspected the man was blind and set out to prove it. The young maiden's father proved the man was blind and ran him off from his home. The blind man came across a man who could not walk. The men agreed to help one another. Along their travels the blind man came across a venomous snake. The venom got in the blind man's eyes and on the other man's legs, they were both cured. The blind man returned to his wife. She was happy to see him. When she realized he could see, she was even happier.

Bibliography:

Laos Folklore by Katherine Neville Fleeson with photographs by W.A. Briggs (1899) 

Laos: "Blind Man"