AT THE TOWER

The woman screams as she is dragged away from the man. Two strong men known as ' the keepers of the tower' pull them apart as their love is deemed 'not enough'. This might just be the tenth case I've seen this month. Her lover, a man with black hair and light stubble on his face screamed for her and as I stood there I was wowed by their speech.

"Wait for me my love... I'll increase my affection" he screamed.

The woman, a beautiful blue eyed maiden fell to the ground weeping and at the same time a sad smile decorated her beautiful face and I watched with my eyebrows raised as she dramatically pulled herself away from the keeper to run to her lover arms flailing and tears flowing. I licked the icecream I was holding due to the hot weather and just because I need a snack to watch the soap opera called " other peoples lives".

Many couples have gone through the same and some throw such a tantrum that you, the watcher find yourself defending their love. I watch with pure amazement as they run towards one another , defying the strength of the keepers by pulling away and I find myself clapping.

No one has ever been able to get away.

People start congregating the area to watch what most of us will go through and as some shake their heads in disappointment, others shed tears and gi home with their eyes cast downwards never realy having any hope at marriage.

This is a city where, a love measure sits at the tower I'm currently standing in front of and at this tower, the fate of lovers is decided. Marriage will not be possible unless the man loves the woman more and how do they know that??? Well, the item that sits atop the tower measures the love they have for one another and a decision whether you will go out to town with a smile or strangle your lover in a bear hug as this two are doing due to the sadness is made.

The keepers try and pull them apart once again but these two prove to be more difficult.

Why dont they just use hugging as a measure??

These two could definitely win. The woman refuses to let go and the man, well he is currently trying hard to breathe from the suffocation of the bear hug his lover has trapped him in. Now I understand why they failed, she obviously loves him more. As ridiculous as it sounds, this is the life we live and yes we are controlled by a machine, that measures love.

The keepers finally remove the woman from the man and he coughs, trying to catch his breath. The faces of the keepers were a sight, with their mouths wide open and their eyebrows furrowed, they regarded the woman.

"Is this why you failed??" one of the keepers asked.

"He wouldn't survive a day with you" the other said.

I held in a laugh at that moment and covered my mouth with my hand as the woman made a horrified expression on her face.

"How dare you. We love one another" she replied after which she looked at her lover " right, my love??" she asked.

He looked at her and nodded, his eyes teary due to the coughing.

"ofcourse " he rasped.

The woman started going towards her lover once again but this time on all fours and in stead of running the other way, the man just sat there waiting for another one of those chocking hugs. Her face and her personality are two totally different things. if one looked at her face, they would think she was an innocent girl but just let her give you a " friendly hug" and you'll know.

Before she could reach him, she was suddenly carried up by one of the keepers as he shook his head at her. He looked at her as if she was a crazy woman and who wouldn't. Her brown hair was in a mess, her make up smudged with the mascara forming black lines on her cheeks and her dress was dirty.

"You are going to kill the man, now go home and wait for him to increase his affection as he said" the keeper told her.

She shook her head aggressively.

"No!! Stop trying to came between us. I'm sure you have no one to love you and that's why you want to get between us" she huffed, crossing her hands in front of her.

The keeper smirked and she furrowed her eyes in confusion. He leaned so that he could be on her level.

"Unlike you, I'm already married" he flashed the ring that sat on his finger and she gasped.

"I passed this a long time ago, so stop disturbing us and let your husband revise for the next time you are here for the test" he finished.

That shut her right up as she slowly stood up and started passing a hand through her hair to reduce the mess and dusting her clothes.

" Revise". Her husband is going to have to love her more than he already does and I started walking home repeating to myself " it's because of the bear hugs", " its because of the bear hugs".

This is why I dont want to fall in love. Love is a feeling that is put on the test and even though that woman seemed a bit crazy, I'm sure she's hurting inside. it must be much more painful than falling down and I can't take pain more than that. I sit at the park and I watch as those who have passed the test of love play with their children and spot beautiful smiles.

There is a woman seated near a tree to my left and I identify her immediately. She is one of those who have failed the test and I remember that she started hitting the keepers of the tower with her slipper after she was given the notice. She was one of the hilarious ones that made my day.

Once the love they share is measured, the lovers are issued a notice that one has to show to the priest or wherever people get married in order to be eligible for marriage. Without it, one stays single whether they like it or not.

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