Spider and Fly, a Love Story

“You puzzle me,” said the Spider to the fly. “But the more puzzled I am by something, the more attracted I am to it.” The fly had loved her ever since he was a maggot, feasting on the dead flesh of a newly departed human. He had dreamed of her and he saw her as clear as anything the day he had emerged from his pupa. Although she was only a dream, he had searched for her his entire life. He never found her although he found a plethora of garbage and cowshit and was happy for many days.

Soon he was old. The routine was old and he found no joy in a particularly stinky fishbone. He flew away as far away as he could. He’d never realized the joy in stretching his wings! What a wonderful feeling! He never got this feeling from eating. He had only been confined by his small vision which consisted of only table scraps which were a fine way to live for a time. But flying was freedom! He never had to look for that face that visited his maggot dreams. For once she was forgotten!

Suddenly he stopped. He didn’t know what hit him and now he was stuck. He tried to move his wing, but it tore and he cried out in agony. In that moment, the face of the spider loomed above him. His terror was delightful. His dream had come true and his heart sang with the sweetest of joys! “Dear Spider,” he whispered, “I have seen you before. Do you recognize me too? I have loved you always.”

“Yes,” said the Spider, “I have seen you many times before. Sometimes you come right away and sometimes I must wait. But I’ve loved you then and I love you now.” The Fly’s heart soared because he knew this was the reason he was born.

“Then we can be together always?” The Spider smiled lovingly as she approached her victim. Her fangs bent down to stroke the Fly, who squirmed in delicious ecstasy. His entire life came down to this. The Spider sunk her fangs into the Fly who suddenly couldn’t move although he still could see.

“You puzzle me,” the Spider said as she wrapped him tightly in her web. “You’ve had nightmares about me since the beginning of your short life, didn’t you? Don’t answer that, I know you can’t talk.” Done with her job of mummifying him, the Spider leaned down and stared into his face. If his heart was still beating, it would have soared, but it slowed to a stop. The last thing he saw was the spider’s loving look. “You puzzle me…and the more puzzled I am by something…”