The Homeless Lover: A Short Story

“All this for the whereabouts of one man?”

“Joe is more important than you know. And you don’t have to worry for him. I’m not wanting him back to punish him. He has the potential for greatness and I don’t want to see it squandered for a lost cause. If Joe returns to the fold now, nothing is lost.”

“I don’t believe you. You are trying to trick me into betraying him, and then I’m dead.”

“I can see why you would think so. Unfortunately I can’t prove it to you.”

“You’ll never trust Joe again, even if you find him. How could you, now when he has started to doubt your propaganda?”

“You think I fear doubt? Not at all, even if it is not for everyone. The common workers are better off being happy with their lot. Blind devotion has it’s place. But
The last days of constant fear and and surprises made her feel like she she had been tossed around in a blanket, only to be find herself in free fall. John’s proposal was ludicrous, but it was also tempting. She could tell everything of what little she knew, and it would all be over. Even if the most likely result was a death sentence. But if he wasn’t lying, then she could buy security, not only for herself, but for her family too. They would be
John’s words had wormed their way into her thought, influencing them when she shouldn't give them any credence at all. They offered a happy ending only for the select few. And they presumed a lot more about her than she was prepared to accept. Like her feelings for Joe, which surely couldn’t be called love. Juliana gave John a quick glance. What had his doubts been? Then she realised she already knew. It must be his brother, the love and grief had not been faked. And then she knew why she found it so easy to be pulled in by his words. She wasn’t tempted with lies, but the truth. He had been honest when he said he wanted to be able to let her go. The connection she had felt with him in the cells had been real, and now he was using