The man's name was Silas. He was an albino monk for a Christian orginization called Opus Dei ('God's Work'). Last spring had left him in an odd state. Silas had fallen in love.
Her name was Genevieve. She saved him from death. Her prejudice boyfriend, Jean, hated Silas for being an albino, so Genevieve (or Genny as she was sometimes called) left him, and she realized she loved Silas.
Silas only figured out he had fallen in love with Genevieve once she explained to him that he was love-sick, thinking about her. The two formed a romantic relationship behind Silas' mentor, Bishop Aringarosa's back. Jean, thinking he was still in possession of Genevieve, stole her, but Silas and the bishop saved her. But the poor monk realized he couldn't keep this up, for he made certain commitments, and he had to stick to them. Genny understood, and she left him with but a necklass with an emerald in it for him to remember her by.
Silas missed Genevieve dearly, and he often said a prayer for her once he was done with his corpral mortification.
Now, seven months later, Silas still longed to see Genevieve's forget-me-not blue eyes and her angelic face, smiling, happy to see him. But he knew it was an impossible wish.
As he ran into the head quarters, he looked at the river that was happily babbling. The river reminded him so much of when Jean took Genevieve from him. The couple had gone to a park in London, and Genevieve had shown him a small little brook.
Silas sighed. He continued to climb up the staris to the headquarters, but then he heard a splash, and a cry for help. He looked out to the river. Someone had fallen in! It looked as if they couldn't swim. There was no else around, and the person was headed right for the rapids. Almost automatically, Silas ran to the river, and jumped into it.
The icy cold water chilled him, but that person was still getting closer to the rapids. He kicked through the water faster. He reached the person just in time, and he fought the current with all of his strength, and swam back to the shore. The person was gasping for air. Silas put them on the shore and crawled out of the river himself.
"What happened? You could have been-" Suddenly he looked at the person. She was a woman. Her black curly black hair was drenched, but her bright blue eyes were eyes Silas could recogniae anywhere. It was Genevieve!
--
Genevieve had been running. She ran along the river banks, but her foot hit a slippery rock and into the river she flew. She had seen someone in the distance and had called for help. She was making her way to the rapids fast. Genevieve thought she was going to be swept away, but she felt strong arms wrap themeslves around her waist, and pulled her away from the white water. She had swallowed quite a bit of water and she was lying on the ground now, coughing and trying to get air. She finally opened her eyes to see who her rescuer was.
He had pale skin, thinning white hair, was tall, and his eyes were a blood red. It was Silas! He took off his hood and gaped at her in disbelief. She gasped.
"Silas? Is that really you?" she said. Silas, lost for words, nodded.
Genevieve felt tears of joy brim in her eyes. She had missed Silas so much! When they 'broke up' she understood why and was not angry with him at all, but she missed him dearly. Every night she said a little prayer for him.
She felt herself being pulled into a strong embrace. She felt a longing that had been buliding up inside of her finally subside. Everytime she was in Silas' arms she felt like nothing in the world could harm her. Silas probably felt the same for her.
Suddenly, a harsh wind blew from the north, making Genevieve shiver. Silas helped her to her feet.
"C-Come, let's get you back to the headquarters.
She followed him towards the building up ahead. Genevieve was told Silas' room number, and ran around the back to the woman's entrance. Genevieve had always thought that a seperate entrance for men and women in Opus Dei was stupid. But she never voiced this thought to Silas or Bishop Aringarosa.
She crept up the wooden stairs, down the hallway and knocked on the door to room twenty. Silas opened it, took her hand, led her in, and sat her down on the canvas mat in the upper left corner of the room.
"I thought I would never see you again!" he said, joyfully. Genevieve smiled.
"Neither did I. I'm so glad I found you. I was running to the library. I had to get a certain book before anyone else took it, but I guess it's gone now," she paused. "Thank you, so much, for saving me Silas. I've really missed you."
"Me too," Silas said. He got up and walked to a simple wooden desk, and lifted an object from it. It was Genevieve's necklass.
"Oh! You still have it!" Genevieve said.
"Of course I still have it," Silas said, "how could I ever forget about you? Everytime I dream, I see you there, everytime I think of you, I feel a great longing in my soul, and every day I think about you at least once." He sighed, "Genevieve, I'm still in love with you."
She smiled. "I'm still in love with you too. I carry the rosary you gave me everywhere I go," she pulled from her wet jean pocket a rosary, looking as if it were brand new.
"It's been very weird, the past seven months," Genevieve told him, "I told my family what happened, and my father sued Jean, now he's spending ten years in prison. I told them how nice you were to me, and how... um..."
"You told them I was an albino?"
"Yes, but they said: 'Genny, if you really love this man, not matter what he looks like, go with him!'. I had to explain that you were a monk and stuff like that."
Silas sighed. "I'm just so glad to see you again. For a long time I've felt like my world hasn't been whole."
"But what about the bishop? And God?" Genevieve asked.
"I love them both, but not in that way," Silas said, "you're the only woman I've ever fallen in love with. I've miss everything about you."
Genevieve got a loving glint in her eyes. "I have too," she hesitated. "I've espically missed your kiss."
Silas smiled. Was Genevieve asking? He soon found out she was.
He leaned towards her, and lightly pressed his lips to her's. He felt her hand slide up around his neck to pull him closer, and deepening the kiss. Once they finally broke apart, Genevieve was beaming.
"Now I'm completely happy," she said. Silas smiled too. Suddenly, something hit him. Something he should have realized seven months ago, but faith stood in the way. This time, he wasn't about to give up happiness.
"Genny," he said, "look, I know a while ago we agreed about not being together, but I still love you..." he hesitated, unsure of her reaction. "I remember you saying you wouldn't be ready to get married but..." Boy, he was bad with words.
"Yes...?" Genevieve said, having a feeling about what was coming up.
Silas sighed. Here we go. "I-I want to become a 'supernummerary' for you."
Genevieve gasped. "You'd do that? Give up brotherhood for me?" A supernummerary was a member of Opus Dei, but they were allowed wives and children.
Silas nodded. "I'll be completely honest, the past seven months have been torture, and I-I..." Silas sighed. Words weren't going to do it. He got up and walked over to the small beurau and picked up something off of it. He walked back to the mat, sat down next to Genevieve and slipped it into her hand.
It was a ring. It was gold and it had a pearl in the middle of it.
"Oh my-!" Genevieve said, speechless. She looked at Silas who was smiling, but his cheeks had turned a bright red.
"Is it a yes or a no?" he asked.
Genevieve thought. Did she want to spend the rest of her life with this man? The man who she saved? Who had saved her? Who she knew would tear the world apart for her?
"Yes!" Genevieve cried happily. She and Silas embarced and she gave him a long kiss on his lips. She was finally getting married!