Olives, Saltwater, and Honey

5

The house I shared with Permenides sat on top of a small hill. If I woke up early enough I could sit outside of the house on the grass and watch the sun rise over the horizon of the sea. It wasn’t uncommon for me to rise while the sky was still dark, but then again it wasn’t very common for me to sleep very much at all. Sometimes I would hum to myself as the sun rose, and other times I would just sit in silence. But every time I just make out the bright fingertips of the rising sun, I would thank Zeus for a new day. Sometimes, I would even cry.

One morning, just as I had finished praying, Permenides came and sat beside me.

“Why are you so captivated by such a normal thing?” He asked, genuinely curious.

“Well… I suppose it’s because…” I couldn’t understand how he was not captivated.

“On with it, woman.” He urged.       

“Look it Permenides,” I said while pointing to the rising sun, “Look at it and tell me you do not see every wonder of our world. Tell me you do not see in it every good thing that can become of this day, this brand new day we have been given?”

He looked at the rising sun in silence for some time, and I studied his face, curious as to what he would tell me.

“I see more beauty in the innocent faces of the merchants whose money will continue to make me rich.” He sighed.

I closed my eyes and drew my eyebrows together.

“Yes, yes you would, wouldn’t you?” I groaned, let down by his answer.

Was there not an ounce of this man that was pure?

“Well, do not keep me waiting very long, breakfast will be served shortly.” He said while standing.

An hour after our morning encounter I sat across from Permenides and waited to be served breakfast.

It was always the same. Fresh hot bread for us both, except Permenides dunked his in wine, while I dunked mine in spiced olive oil. Although I knew it was not uncommon for men to deny their women wine, I was not used to it. My father had once caught wind that the Athenians let their women drink wine, and figured if they could so could my mother.

As I dunked my warm bread into the olive oil, I began to think of how dreadfully boring the day would be. I was so tired of the same old routine. For four years I had been doing the same thing. Waking up, eating with Permenides, sowing for a bit, reading for a bit, pacing the house, then lunch with Permenides, and on and on until it was time for bed. I wished to get out of the house, stretch my legs, do something.

“Permenides, I was wondering if I could go to the market this afternoon.” I asked.

“The market? What do you need? I tell you to write what you need down so that Zoya can purchase whatever you need at the end of the week.” He rolled his eyes.

“I do not need anything, I would just like too look around. Perhaps shop for pleasure instead of necessity.” I shrugged.

“Pleasure? That is how people end up in poverty.” He nearly gagged at the word.

“For Zeus’ sake Permenides, I am begging you to please let me out of this house. I am in my sixteenth year and I need adventure!” I bellowed melodramatically.

He hated complaining, and I knew he would want me to just shut up.

“Fine. Fine. But I will not be having you out of my home every single day.”

“Just once a week is all I need, my love.” I cooed.

He clasped the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply.

“Go ahead.” He waved his hand, dismissing me.

I shoved the remaining bread into my mouth and quickly got up from the table. I was filled with the adrenaline of breaking out of the mold.

“Akira?” I called down the corridor to my personal servant.

“Yes?” She called back, struggling to hold a pile of freshly washed clothes.

“Oh, let me help you with that!” I said taking half of her load.

“No, please. It’s alright!” she exclaimed, but I ignored her and walked towards the drying lines in the back of the house.

I helped her set out the clothes to dry.

“Thank you so much.” She smiled, her eyes looked heavy and her body was a little limp.

“Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” I suggested, making a mental note to ask Permenides to give her more days off.

“That would be greatly appreciated.” She smiled.

I let her gather her things and go, and decided I would just have to bathe alone.

I always enjoyed when Akira sat with me while I bathed, as I enjoyed her company. She had a sweet laugh that filled a room with warmth, and she had a way with words.

I filled up the tub with water from pitchers that had been placed out in the morning. Permenides bathed in a different tub, and his servants always filled his tub with warm water for him. I had been sure to let my servants know it was alright for them to place water out in the morning, as there was no use in them reheating water all day long, when I wasn’t even going to use it.

I lowered my body into the lukewarm water, and sighed. I gently lathered my skin, and washed off. When I was finished with my bath I rubbed a honey and lavender scented oil on my skin, and breathed in the pleasant perfume. I dressed, and was ready, and eager, to spend the day at the market. I brought along a small sack of coins, in case I was so captivated to spend, for pleasure and not necessity.

The market was not a very long walk away from the house I lived in, and the walk itself was very pleasant. When I arrived my senses were bombarded. So many smells, some rich and some vile, so many interesting sights and sounds! Everywhere there was someone yelling or bartering, the smells of rich spices, and salty fish, freshly dried leather, and beautiful shiny trinkets. I was happy to submerge myself in between the chaos, and was even more excited when I had my first bartering barter with a kind looking, if not a bit smelly, old man. I paid him not very much less than he asked for a particularly pretty set of golden and blue dangling earrings.

I loved the days of the week when I could go to the market, and barter, and mingle. There I was not anyone’s wife, or anyone’s slave, I was not anyone’s property, or anyone’s mess to clean up. I was me, and I could do as I pleased. And oh, how I loved to people watch. See all the crazy characters as the lined the carts, some selling, some buying. Sometimes I even made little storied in my head for who which person was, and why they needed so desperately what they were bartering for. It was so much more excitement than I had ever had at my house.

“How was your adventure, woman?” Permenides asked me after my first day out.

“Exciting.” I smiled.

He had just finished seizing over me, and although I was thoroughly disgusting as usual, I refused to let him ruin the incredible day I had.

He laughed at me, and pushed me off of his bed.

I dressed, and left for my room, smiling the whole walk there.