a dandelions life story

cyplesa//chapter one.

desdemonas pov//

i woke up,as usual,to the bustling sounds of athens;at this time,the crown jewel of the ancient world,awaking at early dawn and closing down at midnight. 

"desdemona,you must not be late for prayer!" a familiar voice spoke. she groaned, flapping off the thin cotton sheet to the face of her mother, calanthe. a beautiful woman,who married the most eligible of suitors- the prince of sparta,acanthos, but she fled to athens shortly after she gave birth,leaving her to raise her daughter alone with the fortune she stole. 

"come on,de de." calanthes said,her voice bright and airy. 

"alright,mother,we all heard you the first time. im coming!" i said, already pinning on a new bolt of cloth- royal blue,a color that suited me well and blended in with the sea that surrounded us.my mother smiled before exiting the room,and i bent down to begin her daily prayer. once finished,i went downstairs to greet my mother.

"im glad you hurried,ραδίκι! it's beautiful out!" i internally rolled my eyes- according to her mother,it was always gorgeous out. poseidon could have sent the worst hurricane known to man and she would be outside, reveling in the so-called fresh air. 

"why are you calling me a dandelion,mother?" 

"they are so bright,so colorful,so full of life-and i want that for you,desdemona."

"really? is that why you waste all the gold this family has to offer on me meeting some pretentious old merchant with six ex wives?"

"nobody i've made you meet is that bad." calanthe gritted out,the happiness fading from her voice.

"nobody yet." i muttered,crossing my arms and glaring at the floor.

"you know what,de de? ive tried so hard for you and you fail to see that!" my mother exclaimed,and i groaned at this repeatedly made debate.

"mother,i really don't want to fight. why don't i just go out and buy some food at the market?" i said,spreading my hands in a gesture of peace.

"alright,make yourself useful. just buy the usual." she waved her hand,dismissing me,and turned to the other room. i slipped on my sandals,grabbed the leather coin purse laid on the table,and set out. 

the walk to the market was always peaceful. the sea churning calmly,the shouts of merchants advertising- it just made a pretty mosaic of my world.

i finally made it to the entrance of the market. i scanned it quickly from the outside,trying to figure out the quickest way to get to the stalls i needed- herbs,meat,olive oil,and olives. alright,i can do this. quickly,i stride over to the meat stall- the butcher, malakas. his father didn't know greek very well,evidently.

he greets me with kindness,as usual. i get a lamb,knowing that with our small household it would last us for a month. he always gives me a discount,and i only end up paying 1 gold drachma;he's a kind man.

next,i stop by the herbalist,sondra;an old widow who always has good advice. here,i only buy dried lavender,costing me 6 bronze drachma.

the olive merchant,adamos,is all that's left. i walk up to him,ordering a half gallon of olive oil and a tub of olives.

"two golden drachma,please." he says gruffly,never looking me in the eye.

i count the coins remaining,and with a sinking feeling realize i don't have enough. "would one and eight silver drachma be enough?" i say desperately, praying to any god that would listen.

he gives me a funny look. "are you deaf? i said two gold drachma."

i can feel my stomach drop,and i look down at my sandals,willing myself not to cry.

two golden drachmas are slapped down in front of me,and the olives are shoved towards me.

"oh my gods,thank you so much!" i turn towards my savior,and almost out of reflex start to examine him.

tall. curly black hair. bark-brown eyes. and a cheerful grin.

"it's my pleasure. im olethros."