He suddenly came alive, fought his fetters in a furious rage. “What gives you the right to take my life away, my loves, my reason to be? My wife, my children, my work! You have the gall to strike them out of my life as if they were of no importance! As if I was of no importance to them!” He stopped his desperate struggle against his fetters and stepped closer to Haria. He growled. “Who wants a simple life without any meaning? My children need me... my wife... doesn't need me but I'm sure she wants me! And I need them. You... you're just a hollow shell! You tell me you'd treasure me. What value has your treasuring? I am not a piece of art to be put on a mantelpiece to be appreciated and then forgotten. I am alive... I have my own destiny... and it's NOT being a doormat for you!”

His slight frame shook with anger. It was all the more formidable, because in truth he was about as much in a position to act as Sleeping Beauty in her glass coffin. Haria walked away from He. He followed her, shouting at her. “How dare you! How dare you!” until he reached the end of his tether. Brought up short he stopped. “Look at me! What gives you the right? What gives you the right?”

His furious rage suddenly evaporated. He sank to his knees, breathing hard. Haria stopped, turned to look at him.

“My right? I have the power. I make the right. I've wanted you... I've taken you. Isn't that what men have done throughout the millenia?” She looked a moment at He then turned away and left.

* * *

The moon reflected off the surface of the lake. Below the park was aglow with myriads of lights. Women were laughing, chatting, playing games. From his vantage point He could see into secluded spots, watch women as they were served by men, men who happily knelt at their feet, who seemed to enjoy being smacked like naughty boys, who debased themselves. He turned his eyes away, looked to the left where the lake was barely visible above the trees. Somewhere over there his wife slept in their bed, alone. Somewhere over there his children had gone to bed without him kissing them goodnight. Somewhere over there was his life.

He shifted his shoulders. The fetters were cutting into his flesh, the shoulders ached from the unnatural position of his arms. His neck felt chafed from the collar. He was as helpless as a dog and treated the same way. He felt his knees go weak as his inner strength sapped away. What if he would never see his family again, what if Haria managed to turn him into one of those willess slaves? He had gone far in life, gone there by his own strength and determination... but driven by his deeply rooted fear of loss. And now everything had been snatched away.

He sank down on his knees, leaned against the wall. He could feel the fear, the sense of drifting loose grow stronger. But he couldn't give in. This was not where his life would end. He would escape from this nightmare, make his way back to his wife, his children, his life. He would do everything to make it... everything.

* * *

Haria looked down at He. He slept, curled up against the wall, breathing quickly. In sleep he lacked that vibrating energy that seemed to shine out. In sleep he revealed a different side, looking lost and vulnerable. Haria felt a twisting in her stomach region. She clamped down on it, chiding herself. 'Getting mellow?' Her self-deprecating snort woke He. He sighed, smiled then opened his eyes. For a moment the peace of his dream continued to linger then reality caught up with him. He closed his eyes again for a moment, then pushed himself to his knees.

Haria put the tray down on the straw. He looked at the food, then shifted uneasily. Haria watched him for a moment, waited. He would need to ask, soon. That or soil himself. His dark eyes pleaded with her, to spare him the embarrassment, but Haria pretended not to notice. She tore a piece of the flat bread off. Finally He robbed forward, bent down to kiss her boot.

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