A Bride's Story

Chapter 57: Embroidery

In the quiet confines of their family's bedchamber, Tileke sat hunched over a piece of linen, her nimble fingers guiding the needle through the fabric with precision. Up, down, up, down—the rhythmic motion formed intricate chains that swirled over the fabric in mesmerizing patterns. Tileke's brow furrowed in concentration as she worked, her movements deliberate and careful.

Beside her, Seleke sat on pillows, her own embroidery in progress. She, too, was engrossed in her task, her hands moving deftly as she added delicate details to the fabric.

"... Mother?" Tileke spoke up, breaking the silence that enveloped them.

"Yes?" Seleke responded, her attention still focused on her sewing.

"How far do I have to sew this?"

"All of it," Seleke replied matter-of-factly. "All the way to the edge."

Tileke let out a soft sigh of resignation, feeling the weight of the seemingly endless task ahead of her. Leaning back, she rested her head in her mother's lap.

"Careful, Tileke," Seleke cautioned gently, her voice tinged with concern. "That's dangerous when I'm holding a needle."

Tileke glanced up at her mother, marveling at how effortlessly Seleke made embroidery seem. Her fingers moved with grace and ease, a testament to years of practice and skill.

Sensing her daughter's resignation, Seleke sought to inspire Tileke with tales of their family's embroidery legacy.

"You might take after your great grandmother," Seleke suggested.

"Great grandmother?"

"No, Balkirsh is your great grandmother on your father's side. I'm referring to the great grandmother who's your grandmother Sanira's mother."

"Hmm?"

"She passed away a long time ago," Seleke continued, her tone tinged with nostalgia. "She was really good with embroidery. She was especially good at doing animals. They say the birds she wove took to the sky right after she finished them."

"Really?!" Tileke gasped, her imagination sparked by the vivid imagery.

"That's how good she was."

Inspired by the thought of her talented ancestor, Tileke held up her own embroidered eagle, imagining it coming to life before her very eyes. The majestic bird would unfurl its wings, soaring from the fabric in a graceful arc, a testament to her newfound motivation.

Energized by her mother's words, Tileke returned to her embroidery with renewed vigor, straightening her posture and focusing on her work.

"Come on, sit up straight," Seleke gently reminded her daughter. "Work the cloth." 

After an hour of diligent stitching, Tileke found herself growing bored with the repetitive task. "This is boring," she muttered, her frustration evident.

"This isn't about what's boring or not," Seleke explained patiently, her tone firm yet gentle. "You have to learn how to sew all sorts of things."

"Or else...?" Tileke prodded.

"Or else you won't be able to teach your own children how to sew."

Tileke mulled over her mother's words for a moment before posing another question. "What if my children like hawks too?" she ventured, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"You need to teach them other patterns, too!" Seleke insisted, her frustration mounting with each exchange. "Tileke, haven't you seen our embroideries? Our family has a long history of wonderful patterns."

"I've never seen them."

"What?!" Seleke exclaimed.