Between These Columns

To Lend A Hand (Or A Wing)

The air was yellowish and thick as the streets, packed with loads of people, moved sand debris around. The atmosphere was full of loud shouts from afar, little kids running, and mothers trying vainly to follow their pace. Merchants trying to at least get lucky with business are surrounded by a faint sound coming from a timeless zither. This might seem the description of an active warzone, but it is just a normal day of the Hermaea, a festival dedicated to Hermes in which once a year, young people from all over participate in agonistic games, and I couldn't wait to be one of them. On these occasions, I can never fully grasp the fact that so many people exist, and they speak their dialects, wear their ornaments, live their own lives and seek their glory and-And a fruit stand was at my feet.

All of it.

I could see the radiant colours of peers, figs and grapes, and I could certainly hear the yelling coming from my right side. As I started to focus more on the yelling, I could feel a certain familiarity in the tone. And as I looked up, I realised this familiarity wasn't that welcome. It was my mom's brother, Glaucos, who truly could neither stand me nor my father's side. And he never tried to hide it either.

"Watch where you're going, will you? This was a fair month of work wasted thanks to you!" "I'm so sorry elder, I slipped and-"-And do I look like I care? Not really. I'm done for today, thanks to you! Buzz off."As I was gladly taking my leave, a sudden words erupted mid-air."Actually," my shoulder froze as I sighed, already expecting the venomous words he was going to spew, "it's proper to get redemption for one's mistakes. Come beside me."Walking sluggishly, I followed up beside him. As I put a hand to cover my mouth from the yawn that was following this hardship, I saw his shoulder in front of me. He was leaving. "If Selene rises in the sky and all my hard work is still on that table, expect to see this table for a long time." He laughed loudly as he left, his shoulder getting smaller by the step.To be fair, it would have been out of character if he let me off this easily.

And so here I am, poor Nicolao obliged to sell fruits instead of running and competing in the one festival I always adored. With my lips pressed in a straight line and my vision getting a bit watery, the realization hit me. Deep breaths as I looked at my trembling hands full of bitterness. "It will pass-" I closed my eyes shut-"It's ok".But something startled me suddenly. A presence that set time still for a moment; the air became lighter and all the noise and children and shouts were out of focus. Even my uncle's yells echoing in my mind became just an old's man lecture. How could such a small being have this much impact?A little owl, standing on my quivering hand. No sign of fear in its dim eyes, just pure reassurance conveyed by its sweet melody, jumping a bit now and then, as I crouched down to look at it. It wasn't just singing, it was performing. It was performing a lovely tune that touched the right heartstrings. With a soft whistle it came to a halt and, after glancing at me briefly, left, taking its pleasant melody away with it.I guess it also took my tears.

I just didn't expect them to reach such a minute hand barely sticking out from the lively crowd.