It has been a week since what had happened in the Garden of Eden look alike. Joshak was yet come and visit The Woman which was strange, he would usually come at least once a week. If i had a friend and something so drastic had happened i would not waste time to spill.
Was he still in shock of what had happened or did he not come out of guilt of what had happened to me and could not bear to tell her of the danger he put her favourite servant in or because he had failed to get me taken by Yohah.
It was one or the other, either they were cohorts and partners in exchanging human life for whatever Yohah gave to them or she had absolutely no idea what her friend was capable of.
What was strange was she asked me no question, The Woman was a talkative, not with the other servants but with me . She made sure there were little to no boundaries when it came to conversation between us and would only cut a conversation short if she got uncomfortable with the topic and because of this i knew a few things about her.
I knew that she had been married twice and both men were impotent, yes that surprised me too. I knew that in both marriages the men tried to blame her and make her a topic of laughter while asking her in private to bear with it, well she would not bear that and told everyone the truth, the maids, the male servants, every visitor and at some point she would call the family doctor to explain to anyone who came around.
This act of rebellion against the men ended both marriages. I was inspired by her when i had first heard this, a fierce woman was what every woman in a time like this needed to me and oh i also knew about how she had met Joshak and their relationship at least only the part she was willing to share, it was clear she felt something for him and likewise but she never said anything and i never asked.
She spoke to me alot and asked me so many questions about myself and what bothered me while serving her but she would not ask me about the suicide journey Joshak had taken me on??. She kept me at a distance and even the other maids noticed. I always ate in the same Mayi[tray] as her but not today.
I laid on my very thin mattress that felt the floor, it probably was one with it at this point oh how i miss home, home when my entire family had not turned on me.
Someone knocked on my door and it was Roan, she was one of those girls that i could not form a proper opinion on, one day she would hate me and another was slightly warm. I guess today was not one of the warm days. I opened the door and she said "A boy came to the servant quarters looking for you, it seems he does not know that you are the only one of all twenty five female servants who has her own room" Her voice was laced with more jealousy than resentment.
"Thank you Roan, you are a sweetie" i replied with a smile on my face, it was clear she did not know if what i said annoyed her more or broke through her resolve, anyway she rolled her eyes and walked away.
A boy, Errand boy.
I met him standing outside, sweating from the hot sun and both hands on his hips
"Hey Errand boy" I called to him and he looked at me, i guess he accepted it as his name now. He walked toward me a creeping smile on his face "You know that is not my name right?" but i just shrugged.
He was fine i think, i mean he was not dead so that is a good sign, had he come to see if i wa-. " Earth to Aziah" He brought me out of my thoughts.
"Are you free for a walk, done with your servant duties?" It was good to see he was still as annoying as ever.
"Yes".
"So, where are you taking me to and it better not be another scary place"
he chuckled "No, have you ever heard of Stone Lake?". i shook my head .
"Fine then i will be the first to give you this tour, just you are going to buy me a snack for this" This boy, sigh.
"You were already going to take me though" I argued but he just shrugged his shoulders and laughed . I laughed too.
We got to a place so beautiful, it was like something from back home. A huge lake with stones around it and sitting in it, the water was pristine and picturesque and i could see the reflection of the sky in it and my reflection! I could stay here forever and just swim.
"Beautiful right" Errand boy said seeing my reaction, i nodded still in awe .
"Want to get in?" he asked "Yes!"
"Can you turn away, i have to undress" and he did immediately as one should.
I took off everything but my brassiere and knicker. "You can turn around now" i told him and he stumble back when he saw me . I was knew i was gorgeous but this was something else.
He started to clear his throat and rub his neck, was he nervous "Are you not going to take your clothes off" I teased him and it worked he stuttered " I-I will, you better not fall in love though".
I rolled my eyes "You wish" . I looked away as he took them off except his knicker of course and did not look until he spoke" Lets get in". Him and this beautiful place seemed so perfect like a puzzle placed right. I did not just think that, Never!
The water was lukewarm, just right. I loved here.
"Thank you for bringing me here"
"This is were i would come when things get hard especially when my parents died, my father died fighting for medicine for me, he had no money and had gone to beg and was refused and then he tried to steal it and was caught. He ran to us, hiding the medicine in my mother's hand before he turned back around to face his fate . He knew they would come set our house on fire if they came there and so walked to them, keeping them from us". He looked sad, his eyes were red and mine were crying, this was the first time we spoke this much and it meant a lot to me that he told me this.
"What is your real name?" I asked and he was superised that i did .
"What, do you finally care about me after hearing my sob story?" He said with a smile hiding the pain he felt , i was sad for him.
"Just tell me, Bawe". he laughed when i called him that.
"Eris" he said, i raised an eyebrow "i know it sounds like a girls name but do not laugh" i could barely hold it in.
Eris, it sounded familiar like a name i had heard so long ago .
"Can i ask you a question, its been on my mind since the day i met you but more so this past week" He inquired, i nodded ,i was an open book well not really unless he asked about-
"Where are you from Aziah?" unless he asked about that.