The Bath

The bath house is nice and quiet. The water might be questionable in its quality, but the men here know not to bother me by now. One or two tried to approach me, thinking I was a courtesan looking for clients. It wasn’t difficult to prove them deadly wrong and after a short and blade-sharp discussion, they ended up scattering like the scared little boys they were.

Tinsae used to wonder why I insisted on bathing here; it’s always a real danger that Gaius would pester me if I stayed at home. He thinks I need to hear about his worries or that I need to share mine with him. Still he thinks that. Even after I’ve given him nothing but dirty looks and an occasional snarl. He treats me as his wild mare who’s in need of taming. He yearns to give me his comfort and love, he aches to talk about his dear, dead wife.

Ridiculous old man. He should join his wife in the afterlife. He should let me return to Rome and my family. Every day I need to spend my time away from them, I will remind him that I detest the fact and despise him.

Hesitant steps approach my pool, disturbing my thoughts.

Oh. It’s you from before. The boy who can’t use the right shoes.

I let you sink into the pool. Your proximity is curious, I don’t remember the last time I shared a pool with someone. No one has dared to get this close to me since… Since what? Since Tinsae, I suppose. Even Gaius doesn’t dare to touch me, he looks as though he fears that I might bite his head off. And he is absolutely right. I would if he tried to touch me with his wrinkled hands.

You move and the water moves lazily with it. It makes my heart race quicker, just so that is barely noticeable, but it’s not difficult to keep the fact from showing on my features. The tips of my fingers tingle due to you, you foolish man. You’re gruff. And graceless. Dirty and disgusting. Where did you crawl out of? But, for some reason, I let you sit there.

Your cluelessness is like a breath of fresh air. Is that the reason why I won’t tackle you for intruding on my bathing time? You don’t know who I am, you don’t take me for a courtesan, you’re just sharing a pool with me.

There’s something that halts my thoughts. Your eyes. There’s familiarity in them.

Are you far away from home, soldier? You are, that much is clear. Dragged into a foreign land without your will, don’t we all know what it’s like.

Run back where you came from, boy. There will be more suffering. There are still remnants of joy in your eyes; it will all disappear if you stay here.

But, as I watch your proud features, I know you won’t leave. You need to be here. And that will be your downfall.

That makes the two of us.