A Love Spanning the Decades – The Scarlet Letter Chapter 17 Creative Writing

The wind whipped through the city streets as Hester made her way to the entrance of the park. It had been almost fifty years since she had last seen Arthur Dimmesdale, and every minute of those years showed in his appearance. His skin was withered and he hunched over, looking days- if not minutes- away from death. Hester Prynne, on the other hand, looked exactly the same as she had all those years ago. It was a perk of her lineage.

Hester came from an ancient family of immortal time-travelers, a group of people with no roots, no connections other than those within their circle. She had broken one of their most sacred rules when she fell in love with Dimmesdale, and they had both paid the price. Hester was exiled from her family, her skin branded with a mark visible to everyone like her. Her love, however, was left alone- no word from Hester or their child, who was long since grown- to find his own way in the world. It had been fifty years, and Hester Prynne was finally allowed to reunite with Arthur Dimmesdale. She could only hope that he would be willing to speak to her, forgive her.

Upon her arrival in the city, Hester had been greeted with a shocking piece of information. It was not the new technology or vast numbers of people that shocked her, no. Hester had traveled far into the future and was well-acquainted with those. Rather, it was the news that Hester’s former lover, a vampire named Bloodworth, had been taken on by Dimmesdale as his caretaker. Bloodworth was seeking revenge, and Hester knew it. She had left him centuries ago in a completely different continent, unhappy with their life together and unwilling to give up her family. Both were immortal, but only Hester was able to jump through time at will. She had lived less than a century in total, but Bloodworth had been waiting much longer than that, biding his time and preparing to exact his revenge when they finally met up. Seeing her attachment to Dimmesdale, Bloodworth seized his chance.

“Arthur! Arthur Dimmesdale!” Hester shouted across the park towards the man on the bench. He turned, recognition- alongside shock- flashing across his eyes. They drifted closer, both staring at the other like they had seen a ghost.

“Hester. Have you found peace in the years we’ve been apart?” he croaked.

“Have you?” she smiled weakly.

“My life has been nothing but misery without you and our child! I have been hopeless, despairing! There was no news of your whereabouts! I have been miserable, and yet here you stand, the cause of my misery. I have spent decades drowning in guilt, under the impression that I drove you away. And now, every day I creep closer and closer to death, my health deteriorating!”

“You have done nothing wrong, my love! It was not your fault I was sent away, and our years apart have been punishment enough. Please, believe me when I say you should free yourself of your guilt!” Hester spoke with passion and love, and yet hesitated when it came time for her to reveal the truth about Bloodworth. How could she tell this poor, broken man that the one person he thought he could trust was in fact a false ally, an enemy, even? Finally, drawing in a deep breath, Hester Prynne spoke the truth into the world.

“Arthur, you must know that an enemy has crept into your life, under your roof. Bloodworth, your trusted companion and caretaker, is a former lover of mine. Fear not, he provided me with no happiness! However, he wishes to exact his revenge on me through you, and I fear your worsening health is a sign of his plan’s progression.” Hester knew this news would be a blow for the old man, and waited for his reaction with bated breath. She could only hope for forgiveness. Dimmesdale stared at her, shock plain on his face. Finally, he sank to his knees on the park grass, sliding off the old wooden bench.

“Finally, drawing in a deep breath, Hester Prynne spoke the truth into the world.”

“I should have expected this! I knew, in my heart of hearts, that something foul was going on, and yet I did nothing! I sat there, defenseless, laying my life in the palm of his hand! This is your fault, time-traveler! I will never be able to forgive you for the pain you have caused me!”

Hester’s heart broke; this was her fault, the result of her actions. She flung her arms around the man on the ground, begging for forgiveness. She has survived her exile, survived the growth and departure of her child, but this would be what killed her. Dimmesdale sighed.

“I forgive you Hester, I do. May the world forgive us both. Truly, that evil Bloodworth is the true sinner here. He has acted worse than both of us combined, committed the greatest sins against us.” The couple embraced under the fall trees, leaves floating gently to the ground. And as they calmed down, reality sunk in. What were they going to do next? Would Bloodworth continue to hunt them? For Hester, there was only one option, which she voiced to Dimmesdale. They must flee.

“I cannot leave, Hester, you know I cannot. I am too old and frail, too tightly bound to this city. I will only drag you down, and your family will exile you again. I must die here, and you must leave me. Besides, there is no place far enough, hidden enough, to properly shield me from Bloodworth’s wrath other than the ground beneath my feet. Leave me to find my place alone, it will be safer for us both,” Dimmesdale cried fervently, the light in his eyes dying out.

You must not speak like that Arthur! Our love has spanned decades, and we have just now been reunited. Know that wherever you go, it will not be alone.”