Come

She knelt and placed her palms against his thighs.
He covered her hands with his and felt the cool tops of her young fingers.
She knelt in thanksgiving for this present moment of gladness.
  Gladness for this world and her new place in it.
  Gladness for the acceptance she felt.
  Gladness for all that is handsome and kind.
  Gladness for ways to satisfy her desire.
She knows that this moment in time, like all the passing moments of her life, is in the hands of something or someone beyond her.
Ruth smiles up to the man, whose face seems to be reaching for something, and whispers,
“Come.”