Our love is eternal

Secrets

Anais smiled softly when she saw two of the pharaoh’s guard’s walk down the street with her daughter following in tow. Ana bounced around excitedly as she waited for her sister to finally come home.

“Settle down sweetheart. She’s coming.” Anais said trying to calm down her excited daughter. Though she couldn’t really blame her for being excited she too was excited to finally have her baby back home. After being away from her oldest for nearly two months what mother wouldn’t be excited about their baby finally coming back home.

Ana, not being able to contain her excitement any longer, ran towards her older sister.

“Big sister!  Big sister!” Ana yelled as she ran through the crowded sea of townsfolk that was blocking her path to her sister. After a lot of struggling and pushing, Ana finally made it to her sister who stood waiting for her with open arms. Ana jumped into her arms and hugged her tightly.

“I missed you big sister. Did you have fun with the pharaoh?” Ana asked giggling a bit.

“Yes. I did. I had a wonderful time.”

“Ooh. What happened big sister? Tell me!” Aziza laughed at the hyperactive seven years old who bounced happily in her arms.

“Don’t worry my little water Lilly I’ll tell you and mother soon. But for now, let’s not keep her waiting okay.” Ana nodded and asked to be put down Aziza put her down and grabbed her hand and guided her towards her mother who waited patiently for her two daughters.

Once the two siblings made it to their mother, Aziza turned around and bowed to the two guards who so kindly escorted her home. The two guards smiled and gave a small nod and began their trek back to the palace.

Anais waited until the guards were out of view and ear shot before she grabbed her daughter and pulled her into a long waited hug.

“Oh my baby!” Anais said hugging Aziza tighter and littering her cheeks with kisses.

“Mother, stop it!” Aziza whined trying to pry herself away from her mother’s death grip. After several attempts she gave up and let her mother continue her assault. Anais felt her heart swell with joy knowing that her daughter was finally home and back in her arms. Anais hugged her tighter as tears began to spill from the corners of her eyes and flow down her sun kissed cheeks. She silently thanked the gods for protecting her precious treasure and sending her home safe and sound.

Aziza became worried when she felt something warm on her shoulder and slowly slide down her arm. Gently pulling away from her mother she saw that she was crying.

“Mother, what is wrong? Has someone hurt you?” Anais smiled and shook her head wiping away her tears.

“No my little angel I’m fine. I’m just happy. Come now let’s go inside I made you your favorite meal.”

Aziza smiled and nodded while Ana ran inside the house chanting “Dinner Dinner!” The two older females laughed and followed the hyper child inside. The females sat around the small wooden table and caught up on past memories and old news they had heard around town and from the townsfolk.

“I can’t believe they got a divorce they were so happy together.”

“I know but Mr. Junta bit off more than he could chew. The poor woman cried for days. But she’s fine now slowly recovering.”

Aziza shook her head in disappointment at the news that she had just heard. Apparently while she was away, their neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Junta had had a falling out which resulted in a temporary separation. Though Mr. Junta didn’t see it as that while they were separated, he went out and cheated on his wife with another woman. When Mrs. Junta found she was furious and demanded a divorce.

“Poor Mrs.Gunta.” Aziza thought sadly.

“Anyway, enough about that How were things at the palace sweetie?” her mother asked trying to change the subject.

“Oh, it was wonderful mother! Everyone was so nice and treated me with such kindness.” Aziza said full of joy. Anais smiled at the good news. That settled her worries of having to storm the castle and most likely be put in prison.

“That’s good to hear, how about the pharaoh?”Aziza’s face turned a deep cherry red at the mention of his name. Her mind began to flash with memories of the time she had spent with Egypt’s handsome king. She tried hard to hide her growing blush that was slowly creeping up across her face but was failing miserably.

“H-h- he treated me as if I were his queen.” She replied putting her head down trying to hide the blush across her face. Ana saw her sister’s face and instantly became worried.

“Mama big sister is sick her face is red!” Ana yelled before running into the kitchen and grabbing a wet rag and bucket. Ana came back with the bucket and rag and began to wipe her sisters red face. When she saw that it wasn’t going away she began to scrub the rag across her face hoping it would help.

“Mama, her face won’t go back to normal.” Ana whined Anais laughed and shook her head.

“Ana, she’s not sick. She’s blushing.”

Ana looked at her sisters face again and saw what her mother was talking about.ana grabbed her sister’s cheeks and started observing them.

“Why is she blushing mama? Did the pharaoh kiss her while she stayed at the palace?” Ana asked her mother while still holding her cheeks. Anais laughed at her daughter’s question while Aziza’s face went even darker.

Aziza tried to calm down the wild blush that littered her face. Even though half of what they were saying was true. She didn’t want them to know that. Though the feeling in her stomach was constantly bothering her. She did want to tell her mother the things that had happened while she was at the palace. But she promised Isis that she would keep what happened a secret. Aziza frowned. She hated keeping things from her family. She always believed an honest family is a happy healthy family. And right now she was breaking one of the very rules she always followed.

After cleaning up that night’s dinner, and catching her father up on current events, she bid her family goodnight and headed for bed.

“I’m worried Hetek.” Anais said while brushing her hair in front of her vanity.

“About what dear?”

“I know she’s a grown woman now but I don’t want her to leave us just yet. I just want to hold onto her for a little while longer.” Anais replied her voice cracking a little.

Hetek could understand his wife’s pain. Along with his wife he to become attached to Aziza He to feared the day where she would find that special someone and start a life of her own. No matter how much he prayed to the god’s to postpone that day. His prays always feel on deaf ears.

The tall tanned skin man ran a hand through his soft brown hair and walked over to his now sobbing wife. He enveloped her into a comforting hug and let her cry out her sadness.

For most of the night, the halls of the small home were filled with quiet sobs of a saddened mother. By sunrise of the next morning, Anais couldn’t cry anymore tears. She lay quietly in her husband’s arms quiet and limp.

“We’ll have to tell her soon.” Anais said after a long silence.

“I know my love. I know.”

“Please Ra. Please don’t let her hate us.” Anais hugged her husband tightly and silently fell into a long awaited sleep.

Unbeknownst to them, Aziza had woken up early to start breakfast and had heard everything they had said. The black haired maiden wanted desperately to go and console her mother but for some unknown reason. She couldn’t bring herself to do it.