Blurbs and Snippets

Gone to Market

The street markets were intricate and designed for tourists to get lost in. They were meant for captivation and entanglement; a question of direction. Dusty, cobblestone paths wound around and in-between buildings that all looked the same. They might lead to another market, or to courtyards that did nothing to help your sense of direction; they were out of place. Some hearty exclamation from someone tending their stand would lead to the purchase of an interesting little trinket that held no meaning, simply because a tourist had lost their way and would rather look foolish than confused.

It was nonsensical, and despicably alluring.

Laurel picked her way carefully down an old white staircase between two buildings, running her hands along the cool stone on either side of her. Every so often, her fingers would catch on a vine, or dip into a hidden crevice. She had turned on a whim several turns ago, and was, by now, helplessly lost.

She wasn't sure if she minded. Half of her felt the delightful inkling to get even more lost.

Her sandals kicked up a tiny cloud of dust when she finally rejoined the array of people bustling about the stands, eyes squinting against the harsh sunlight and immediate jump in temperature.

"Pretty girl!"

Laurel jerked away from the harsh sounding voice that had just shouted directly into her ear. An old woman was beckoning her, gray and smiling a smile without many teeth.

"Pretty girls need pretty flowers. Come look at mine; they're the best you'll find here. Richard's wife down that way—oh, her flowers are always droopy and sad. But mine, my flowers are the ones you want."

She broke into an unpleasant wheeze, looking rather winded after babbling about something that Laurel definitely didn't feel much for. Still, she felt it rude to walk away without saying anything.

"I'll buy some on my way back," she promised, knowing fully well she would never be able to follow her footsteps back the way she had come.

Eli watched as she was drawn to a display of bottles and candles, two unnecessary objects that were appealing because of their contrast. The colors, the smells; and then the lack of similarity of the closed glasses. Some had rope tied around them; she touched one, and then looked up and smiled.