Chap. 1
Longings
She groped around for her glasses, her pale fingers searching the slabs of cold, hard rock for a bump in the smooth surface. Without her glasses, she was lost in a world of blurry objects all her own. Finally, she felt then within her grasp. Seizing them up quickly, she fumbled as she placed them over her bright blue eyes. Standing up, she peered around the small kitchen, consisting only of a large fireplace, huge black pot boiling over the hot flames, a rough wood table with five dirty stools and rude shelves protruding from the floor to ceiling in the corner. Sighing heavily, the girl walked over to the large pot and began to stir the boiling soup. A heavy aroma wafted throughout the small room, filling her nostrils with a delightful chicken scent. She pulled the wooden spoon out of the stew and placed it on the table. She sat down and began to think.
'Life is so boring! I do the same thing everyday, cook clean baby-sit and sleep. It is and endless circle that must stop!' The girl thought to herself.
"Aranel, go collect some herbs for tonight's dinner!" her mothers voice rang out from the adjacent room.
"Alright," was Aranel simple yet drab reply. Gliding over to the shelves, she picked up a wicker basket and walked to the door. She would go to gather herbs, she thought to herself, but she didn't plan on coming back. At this thought, she moved back to the shelves and secretly placed a loaf of poppy seed bread and a smoked flounder into a soft cloth. Tiptoeing back to the front door, she crept out, barefoot, onto the dirt road and began to jog down the street.
~
Half an hour later, the sixteen-year-old girl found herself in the dark woods, walking quickly through the brush. Nettles caught her bland cotton dress and her wool shawl slid down so frequently that she took it off and laid it gently on a low laying branch. Finally, Aranel reached a clearing. Luscious green grass filled the meadow and a rainbow of wild flowers swayed in the warm night breeze. Pale moonlight poured down on the girl who stood there silently. Abruptly, she moved forward and sat down on the beautiful landscape. It was perfect, too perfect, she thought to herself. But it was that purity that lured the girl into the sea of calmness. Lying down, she stared at the stars. They glittered like diamonds in the sky, held up only by God's hand. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes, drinking up the summer air. Then she slipped off to a dream world filled with pleasant thoughts.
Longings
She groped around for her glasses, her pale fingers searching the slabs of cold, hard rock for a bump in the smooth surface. Without her glasses, she was lost in a world of blurry objects all her own. Finally, she felt then within her grasp. Seizing them up quickly, she fumbled as she placed them over her bright blue eyes. Standing up, she peered around the small kitchen, consisting only of a large fireplace, huge black pot boiling over the hot flames, a rough wood table with five dirty stools and rude shelves protruding from the floor to ceiling in the corner. Sighing heavily, the girl walked over to the large pot and began to stir the boiling soup. A heavy aroma wafted throughout the small room, filling her nostrils with a delightful chicken scent. She pulled the wooden spoon out of the stew and placed it on the table. She sat down and began to think.
'Life is so boring! I do the same thing everyday, cook clean baby-sit and sleep. It is and endless circle that must stop!' The girl thought to herself.
"Aranel, go collect some herbs for tonight's dinner!" her mothers voice rang out from the adjacent room.
"Alright," was Aranel simple yet drab reply. Gliding over to the shelves, she picked up a wicker basket and walked to the door. She would go to gather herbs, she thought to herself, but she didn't plan on coming back. At this thought, she moved back to the shelves and secretly placed a loaf of poppy seed bread and a smoked flounder into a soft cloth. Tiptoeing back to the front door, she crept out, barefoot, onto the dirt road and began to jog down the street.
~
Half an hour later, the sixteen-year-old girl found herself in the dark woods, walking quickly through the brush. Nettles caught her bland cotton dress and her wool shawl slid down so frequently that she took it off and laid it gently on a low laying branch. Finally, Aranel reached a clearing. Luscious green grass filled the meadow and a rainbow of wild flowers swayed in the warm night breeze. Pale moonlight poured down on the girl who stood there silently. Abruptly, she moved forward and sat down on the beautiful landscape. It was perfect, too perfect, she thought to herself. But it was that purity that lured the girl into the sea of calmness. Lying down, she stared at the stars. They glittered like diamonds in the sky, held up only by God's hand. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes, drinking up the summer air. Then she slipped off to a dream world filled with pleasant thoughts.