The story of Rachel

amother

Sun, Apr 03 2011, 9:45 pm

Rachel stepped out of the house into the bright sunlight. It was early morning and the village was still quiet. The sounds of birds in the distance and the warmth of the sun beating on her head made her want to sing. She hadn’t slept well at all, in all her excitement.

Today was finally to be her wedding day! Today, she’d be united with her dear Yaakov as man and wife.

Seven years had passed slowly, building up the anticipation for this moment. Yet the time had finally arrived and Rachel could hardly wait for evening.

Rachel heard footsteps and turned to see her sister Leah standing by the doorway. The sun blinded her, and Rachel couldn’t see the stunned expression on her sister’s face.
“Come, Leah,” Rachel said smiling, motioning beside her. She sat on a low bench and waited as her sister approached in halting steps.

As Leah’s face came more clearly into view, Rachel was horrified by what she saw. Leah’s face was contorted, pained, moved by something terribly deep and bitter.
Panic gripped her. Today was supposed her perfect day! What was happening now?
“Is- is it Yaakov?” she choked. She shuddered to imagine that something awful had happened to him.
Leah shook her head wordlessly, and the relief that Rachel felt was instantly eclipsed by new waves of anxiety.
“Leah, Leah! Tell me! What is it??” she cried.
Leah covered her face with her hands, shoulders heaving. “Father… father…”
Rachel couldn’t contain her anxiousness. “What??? Please tell me!”
“Father… has just informed me… that tonight… I am to take your place…” And Leah threw herself to the ground, kneeling and gripping her hair in anguish.

An icy wave washed over Rachel and she sat frozen, stunned by what she’d heard.
For a few moments, she couldn’t comprehend, and then she envisioned her sister, beloved as she was, taking her place under the wedding canopy, and consummating the marriage with the man who was supposed to be for her.

To be sure, they had seen it coming. Far from watchful eyes, Yaakov had whispered to her the plan to ensure that such a treacherous act would come to pass. He had given her secret signs that only the two of them would know, and thus be assured that the veiled woman that he took was indeed his beloved Rachel.

But sudden feelings overwhelmed her, and Rachel knew that although they had foreseen the possibility, she was not truly prepared for another factor which came into play. Were Leah indeed to walk to the wedding canopy with Yaakov, it would only be a matter of time before she was revealed as a charlatan. Yaakov would request the signs and… Rachel could imagine her sister wringing her hands in consternation, deep embarrassment rising within her, the bitter blush in her cheeks as Yaakov would bring the wedding to an abrupt end, and the tears that Leah might shed as she’d run from the wedding party in disgrace.

Within Rachel rose a deep compassion and she felt compelled to protect her dear sister. Calmly she reached for her sister’s hand, bringing her to sit next to her once again. Taking both of her sister’s hands in hers, she looked deeply into her sisters eyes, and told her of the plan. She told her how she and Yaakov had foreseen this event, and without a moments pause, she revealed the secret signs.

They clutched each other in a warm sisterly embrace, communicating wordlessly, until finally, they returned to the house. Rachel turned to her room, and Leah began the wedding preparations.

In her room, Rachel flung herself upon her bed, weeping. Leah would now be bathing, her hair was being combed and her body adorned. She would be donning the exquisite wedding gown that was meant for her, and soon be escorted to the center of the village where the townspeople were gathering for the festivities. Rachel’s shoulders convulsed with deep sobs, cries that seemed to never end…

She must have fallen asleep. Rachel lifted her tear stained face from the bed and listened silently. The room was darkened; the sky had turned a deep shade of blue. The house was quiet, and she realized that the family must have already left. How long ago? She couldn’t tell. From afar, she heard the sounds of revelry and music, but she could not participate. Her heart was shattered into thousands of pieces. And yet, from that broken heart had been reborn a wholeness she could not have anticipated, and something that would carry on for generations.

-Pink Pointes