If Atem Lived in my Head

Atem... She's sleeping

            

I don't think she knows that I watch her at night. While she's sleeping, most of the time it is the only time she gets any kind of rest. The only time she really seems her age. She's running around all the time, working on a hundred things at once.

The mother is useless but Nuni loves her so much it hurts her. She loves her family and so young, she's just trying to keep her family together. In my time as a Pharaoh, I would have needed to marry not only to give the people a queen but to produce an heir... Nuni would have been the kind of girl I wanted. She has the spirit of a queen.

"It's a shame she's treated so poorly." I run my hands through her short hair, some locks stay out as if reaching out for me.

"Wishful thinking." I chuckle to myself, I don't know if there will be anyone that can handle you. I don't think there will ever be anyone worthy of her, certainly not that Tristian guy who keeps at her affections, he is not worthy of her but, then again, I don't think I am even worthy of her but it never hurts to dream. Despite everything, Nuni keeps dreaming. Though everything in her life keeps trying to put her down. Well not everything. Those two little boys seem to make her happy. She'll never admit it. She might not even know it herself, but they are a part of her chains linking her here.

I comb my fingers through her hair, she has such lovely hair, soft, the ends refusing to conform to the short length she keeps cutting it to. I've seen the pictures of her long hair. I would have enjoyed running my fingers through that but from what she's said she didn't enjoy brushing it.

Had I met Nuni in my time she would have had her hair washed and brushed for her. She wouldn't have had to wash dishes, she would have been free to do as she pleased; read in the garden to her hearts content, roam the city without concern for her family. If only she had been with me back in Egypt, I would have given her everything.

"Stop!" Nuni bolts upright, her eyes are wide, I can see sweat trail down the side of her face and she clutches the blanket in her hands.

"It's okay." I grab her hand "you're awake now."

She takes a second to gather herself but finally she looks to me and she slides out of bed. I don't bother trying to stop her this time, I just follow her out as she grabs her blanket and heads toward the door.