River of Love

Chapter 8

Chapter 8They stood at the top of Lover’s Leap, overlooking the vast valley below them. Dakoda shared with her the legend behind the name of the cliff. “So the young lover’s were caught in a passionate exchange of affection by the Chief of the tribe. It was his daughter who was in the embrace of the squaw from the rival tribe across the forest. He was so infuriated with the sight that he jumped out of the bushes where he and a few of his men were hiding. The young lovers were frightened with the confrontation. When the princess saw the fury in her father’s eyes, she knew that he would kill her lover. So grabbing her love’s hand, they ran as fast as they could until they reached this cliff. This is when they suddenly realized that they had nowhere else to go. The chief and his men surrounded them, and the chief screamed for his daughter to come to him, but she refused. The lovers looked at each other, and declared their undying love out loud to all. With tears streaming down their faces, they wrapped their arms around one another, and without looking anywhere else but into each other’s eyes; they simultaneously leapt off the edge of the cliff, and plunged to their deaths.”

“Oh my god that’s absolutely awful,” Avery commented with distraught as she circled her arms around herself. “No one is allowed to judge or say who you can love.”

Concerned that maybe she shouldn’t have told the story, Dakoda embraced the young woman. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Avery quickly looked up into ocean blue pools. “Oh no, you didn’t upset me. The story is sadly beautiful and morbid, and yet very touching. I hate that people in society try to impose themselves on others. It’s just my reaction to the story.” She laid her head on Dakoda’s chest, accepting the comfort that was offered. “What a way to die like that for the sake of love.” Avery muttered.

Dakoda slowly rubbed her friend’s back with full broad strokes. They spent some time walking along the trails of Lovers Leap, and talking of their lives. Before long, Dakoda announced that they needed to get back to her place so she could get ready for work.