Laying back in the giant bed they had shared for the last four years, Evelyn settled down against the cool feeling silk, as Beni sat on the edge and covered her. Glancing around, her thoughts went back to everything they had gone through since they first met.

At first she looked at him as scum. As the lowest of all creatures on Earth. She was a complete opposite then him and felt disgusted whenever he came around. He was nothing but a lair and a thief…until they finally crossed paths. He was thrown in jail for trying to steal. She remembered visiting the prison since the owner needed their book keeping updated. She felt uneasy walking by the cells in her cream colored dress, trying to ignore the shouts and names the men called out at her. Finally she stopped in front of his. Glancing over, she noticed he was a weasel of a little thing. Thin and extremely tan. But she was taken back by his striking blue eyes. Something that seemed so out of place on a man like him.

That's when another cell mate called out to her, making her blush and turn away. It was him who stood up, leaning against the rusting bars of his cell and began to scream at the others to leave her alone. For a brief second they made eye contact and she could of sworn he smiled at her.

A few months later she ran into him on the street. His hair darker and finally growing. That stupid little red hat he always wore now gone. They right away remembered each other and he followed her back to the library. She tried to pretend he wasn't there. Walking ahead with her chin raised high. She was a lady and he was nothing but a thief.

But he still came to the library everyday after that.

Finally she couldn't stand it. Seeing him day after day walking around as she sat behind her desk. Looking around, not saying a word. They exchanged names, and finally she asked why he kept coming.

His answer was…he wanted to learn how to read.

So that's how they were for months on end. She knew almost little about him, but whenever he was around her he tried to keep his manners and listen. She decided that if he really did want to read, she would set aside an hour day whenever it wasn't busy and help him.

Somehow a strange friendship came from it.

He came everyday, dressed in the same clothes, tired and dirty looking. She meanwhile sat beside him, slowly showing him his letters and how to write English. Stunned, she found out he knew nearly five different languages like herself, yet didn't know the first thing about writing proper English. They often talked in the languages they knew, joking and laughing, making her cheeks turn a deep color of red. In a strange way he was charming, and seemed kind to be around with. He said he had no family, but served in the army for a few years. Since then he ran into a lot of bad luck.

She knew within time, maybe by her own helping…he might be shaped to quit his bad habits and take the talents he had deep within himself and use them. Jonathan whenever he was around made fun, that she was slowly falling in love with a thief. But often Evelyn stuck up for Beni. He was just misunderstood and needed a second chance. She knew Terrence wasn't happy that she spent most of her afternoons at the library teaching Beni, but he never said anything. In fact, deep down inside he saw Evelyn looking happy for once. Finally becoming a little outgoing, and not so stuck up like she used to be. It was finally about time she spent time with the opposite sex.

Time past, and Beni got better and better with reading. Evelyn was beyond pleased with him, and he visited her early in the mornings whenever she was working. Bringing her fruit and always cheering her up no matter how bad of a day she was having. Once and awhile they would talk the streets together, talking side by side.

At the end of the year, one beautiful star lit evening…he kissed her.

That's when she told him, he had to stop stealing and being a sneak. If he really did want a second chance, she was more then willing to help him. He told her he didn't have much, but if she really wanted him to change, he would do it.

So, things slowly began to get better.

Beni spent a lot of time in the desert. Helping out with digs and building of sorts. Evelyn meanwhile stayed home, working in the library, always waiting to hear his stories of working out in the vast uncharted land. Somehow she could spend hours hearing him talk, always laughing and gazing into his eyes.

What little money Beni made, he saved. Finally at the end of the year he bought a wedding ring.

Beni tried to work hard and tried to forget his past. He traveled through the deserts, building up muscle and trying his very best to make sure his new wife would be comfortable. He thought of Evelyn as his good luck charm. Many months he was in the desert, going through ruins, under the hot blazing sun…knowing this was all for her.

They bought a beautiful house outside of the city. Beni traveled six months out of the year into the desert. Still digging and using his talents to find work. Evelyn meanwhile kept at the library. Even though they had money, they believed now in saving. Beni knew that good luck wouldn't last forever, so he kept going into the desert, searching for more.

Their marriage was a happy one. They loved each other and had a strange understanding. Evelyn never thought she would marry a man like Beni, but here she was…beyond happy.

Nearly six months before hand, Evelyn began coughing up blood.

She blamed the desert, Beni and her often traveled in. She thought perhaps the sand was getting the best of her, and stayed home most of the time. But the pain grew worse and she began to notice how weak she was becoming. After reading up on medical books, her worst fear was coming true.

She had tuberculosis.

How could this of happened? She often through. It all started with weak spells, feeling dizzy, and finally the blood. The first signs of it was when Beni was in the desert working. She feared that perhaps…since she found happiness, God was trying to take it away.

So she kept it to herself, praying that maybe one day…it would just go away.

A few months before hand, Beni discovered the blood. They were walking together, through the market on the other side of town, when Evelyn began feeling weak. She stopped to sit in the shade when an awful burning feeling went through her lungs. Beni bent down, holding her face, asking if there was anything he could do.

Moments later she began to cough blood.

He demanded she go see a doctor, but she lied. After all these years of asking him to turn his life around, to no longer steal and be dishonest. Here she was being stupid and lying. She told Beni the doctor said she was fine.

Months past, and the blood kept coming. Often she would hide it, feeling thankful that Beni traveled a great deal and hardly was in the house. But soon, even simple tasks as in bringing books around seemed hard. She began to loose weight, and her golden tan started to fade.

Her happy life was falling apart.

Now laying there, in their huge bed, she tried her hardest to relax as she stared up at the ceiling. Taking heavy breaths, she stared up at her husband and tried to smile. Looking down at her, he brushed the hair out of her face and got up to close the doors that lead to the balcony. The curtains blew back and forth, the sky starting to grow dark.

Leave it open…

Evelyn muttered. Beni turned, the same serious concern look deep in his eyes.

I heard it was going to rain.

Then open the doors wider.

Evelyn smiled. Often whenever Beni was gone from home working, she would spend her nights awake, listening to the rainfall that came every few months. Beni slowly nodded before walking back over to her. Sitting beside her he took her hand and brought it up to his lips to kiss.

I'll fetch the doctor.

No…

Evelyn we must.

Evelyn tried to take another breath before she felt the sudden feeling of panic. Her insides ached and she felt as if she was drowning. Turning over and coughing, Beni placed his hands on his wife and tried to sooth her as she choked. After a few moments she relaxed and laid back down, a small dribble of blood running down her mouth and onto his hand. Looking at her, his eyes seemed worried.

An hour or so later, the doctor came. Beni stood by the door, biting his nails and watching as his wife was looked over. Evelyn truly was an angel. She had saved him and turned him into a better man. A man who could be proud of his life. If anything happened to her, he had no idea what he would do.

Finally the doctor asked Beni to step out of the bedroom for a moment.

Standing in the hall, listening to the heavy rainfall, Beni stared at his brass wedding ring and felt tears build up behind his eyes.

He couldn't loose her.

Finally the doctor asked him back in. Evelyn by then was laying peacefully in bed. The doctor closed his leather bag before standing up. Beni went to his wife's side and held her hand tightly.

She does have tuberculosis…I don't know if it was due to the desert sands, or the heat…but she does have it.

Beni's heart dropped. Sitting there, he stared off into space. Why couldn't it have been him?

Evelyn cleared her throat before looking at the doctor, standing at the foot of her bed.

My…my mother died from it.

Beni then looked over at Evelyn, he never knew this.

The doctor nodded before pacing back and forth.

Your in your late stages, in fact I'm shocked to see your even well enough to still walk around. You're a strong fighter Evelyn…you really are.

Evelyn tried to smile before looking over at Beni, he was shaking.

There are treatments, places…like clinics?

Mostly in America, but in all honest truth I don't think your in the state to travel.

So that's it, we just give up.

No, we don't…I have medication I can give your wife to ease the pain. Like I said she's a strong fighter and could live on for years.

Beni lowered his head, as Evelyn listened. The doctor went on.

I really can't give you time Evelyn…this is a serious illness, but I'm sure you'll be strong.

Evelyn's hand went to Beni's chest, where his ten or so chains hung. Often whenever she was nervous she would reach over and start playing with them. Always smiling and remembering about what an open mind her husband had.

But I don't have long…

Evelyn's sparking eyes matched up with the doctor before he nodded.

There is one other thing, I would like to discuss with you two.

Beni looked up.

What?

The doctor sighed before looking straight at them.

Evelyn is with child.

Evelyn and Beni froze. Children was something they couldn't seem to stop talking about for the last year or so. But nothing had happened yet. Evelyn claimed it was all about timing and faith.

She's…

Beni couldn't talk anymore. He felt as if someone had thrown buckets of freezing cold water on him. The doctor nodded.

She's about two…maybe three months along, I'm sure you haven't noticed since you've been so ill.

Evelyn then sat up and said what she knew Beni was thinking.

Will I make it to deliver the baby?

At your state, I really don't know…in fact your pregnancy makes the risk higher for your illness.

Evelyn lowered her eyes before the doctor kept talking, but everything after that was a blur.

Later, once night fell. Beni went back to the bedroom after seeing the doctor out. Rain was still falling, making a cool breeze go through the room. Slowly he went to his wife, and noticed she was crying.

Evelyn…

He leaned down, putting his thin arms around her as she shook. Tonight they had learned that not only was she dying…but that they had a child on the way too. Everything seemed to be happening so fast. Beni could hardly think. Maybe they could do something, anything to save her.

Evelyn then looked up at Beni before wiping her eyes.

I don't care what the doctor says, I might be dying…but I'm still having this baby.

Evelyn please…

Evelyn shook her head. She had always wanted to be a mother, now she knew there was a time limit for how long she would be on this Earth. This was her last chance, and only hope sent from God to do one thing right.

And if she did die, Beni would have their child. The loss wouldn't be that bad if he had a child. Tears running down her feverish face, she buried her head against his chest as he held her into the night.