Chapter 1.1 What Makes A Home

 I watched my father put his bag down and felt a sense of relief. We were back from Egypt and we had found the soulpeace gem

our home would have luck. I looked around our village and felt a sense of pride, the village was small but it was home.
On the first day after returning, Barsine and I began to plant a garden. After all what is a village without a garden. Little tomatoes, grapes, and lettuces are beginning to sprout and I feel such pride.
"Aren't they beautiful", Barsine asks me one morning.
"Oh yes", I reply. I can tell that Barsine is much more of a gardener than I am. I prefer the task of doing the laundry it makes me feel, I don't know happy.
Barsine and I take turns doing the cooking and we both enjoy that alot. Even though we have to wait for the men to eat before we do.
Seleucus our leader, and Peritas spend their days out fishing and they always bring us back plenty of fish.
"Peritas, do you like fishing?", I ask him one day.
He looked at me then said, "I guess I do, I enjoy the freedom."
I think I would enjoy the freedom too, women are only allowed to leave the village if they have a good reason. Yes I definitely would enjoy the freedom.
My father since we have arrived has spent most of his time, painting pictures to honor those above. I wish I could spend more time with him, but the times we do spend together are precious to me.
So I guess I should introduce everyone. Seleucus is a good leader, but a bit to hot-headed for my liking.
Barsine is nice, but she reminds me of the girls who teased me at my old village.
Luckily for me I have been able to keep my clumsiness under control. Peritas is wonderful and handsome. So far I have not been able to fault him.
My father Aristander is much the same, yet he has become much more grumpy since our journey.
Lately I have seen Barsine clutching her stomach,
she has also thrown up. I think she must be pregnant but she hasn't said anything yet. I to have been feeling sick. I fear I am pregnant and worry so much, I ask my father if he will through the soulpeace ask those above to give me peace.

I know if I am pregnant it will only bring disaster, my first child would destroy our people. Yet for you to understand I have to relive the darkest memory something I buried long ago...