The room seemed strange to Ezekiel. A peculiar haze filled the space at the edges of his vision. In the center stood Asher and Rina in a passionate embrace. Asher withdrew a dagger from her abdomen as he stepped away. Blood soaked through her outer garment as she fell to the floor. Asher turned his gaze to Ezekiel with a devious smile and laughed triumphantly. Ezekiel ran toward Rina, who turned into Yeshua with the prophesy, “Someone will die if you don’t return the money and retrieve your dagger.”
Ezekiel’s eyes flew open. His cloak was drenched in sweat as he stood from his mat. The room was silent as he walked into the night air. The dream etched newfound resolve in his mind.
Why would Yeshua show up in a dream, though? It had been almost two years since he heard that prophesy. He searched his mind for another way but couldn’t think. Like a tattoo on his mind, the thoughts consumed him. He would have to find Eliab.
Word reached Hadwin that Rina was considering a proposal of marriage to the man who would become his employer. The news grieved him. He knew she had always dreamed of marrying someone she loved. Though it seemed irrational to him, deep down he knew marrying for love was a thing of the future, and the currents of time were against his daughter.
Rina sobbed at the thought of marrying Asher. She needed to decide soon. She hated seeing her father work so hard and knew he would take an early grave if he continued at this pace.
On the other hand, Asher’s threat was a window into his soul. She hoped it was just an emotional outburst, but he had seemed so cold, so calculated. She felt like a piece of land to be bartered for. In that moment, all the attraction she had for Asher transmuted into fear.
She had hoped for clarity by this point, that her thoughts would stop turning to Ezekiel. Though she was trying to protect him and her family, she felt ashamed for entertaining the idea of Asher’s proposal. How could a man speak of love then talk of her as if she were property? But she knew—to men like Asher—that’s all women were. Property. She was fortunate enough to have a father who was a good man. He had taught her the value of independence, so, when a man came along, she could truly have freedom within the relationship. Now she was to be a slave. Like her grandmother, she would live in the confines of society and marry for survival. Tears fell from her cheeks like falling stars. It was the death of a dream.
The next day, Rina woke from a deep sleep. Somehow, she was just as exhausted as the night before. Her dreams had fallen dark with the night. The smell of bread baking in a clay oven just outside filled her nostrils. The sweet aroma of fresh honey collected by her father was also a welcomed scent of home. Rina wondered how much longer she would have before she was whisked away to serve a master whom she now found repugnant. Still, the smile of her mother warmed her heart, and she remembered why she had to do this. Her loved ones must never know of her sacrifice. It would be her and Ezekiel’s secret. In the meantime, she needed to get a message to him.
“I need to go for a walk, Mother.”
“Alright, I’ll go with you.”
“No, I need to go alone.”
“Alright. Please be careful. You’re my only child. I wish I could give your father a son, but all he has is you. It would break his heart if something were to happen to you.”
“I’m always careful, Mother.” Rina kissed her on the cheek and hurried out the door.
Fighting back tears, she ran to Ezekiel’s house. Once there, she saw no one was home. Ezekiel must have been out fishing. She had to see him, although the pit of her stomach turned in fear that she would be found out. Tears made streaks in the dust accumulated on her face. I must look like a wreck, she thought.
She went past the animal skin door and looked for some way to get a message to him. Her Hebrew was impeccable. Her father taught her every night when she was little. He thought it would make her a more desirable wife someday. She found a remnant of dried animal skin and a crude cooking knife. She took the end of the blade and pricked her index finger. She willed herself not to make a sound and wrote in Hebrew the following words with her blood:
It read, “You must know what I do, I do out of love. There has never been someone whom I have loved more than you, my dear Ezekiel. But now I must love another. Please forget about me with the knowledge that you did the best you could.”
Afterward, she washed her hands in the sea. The message would be received. She had let him down easy.
“What are you doing here?” said a voice from behind.
Startled, she turned to find Aaliyah. “I just left a message for Ezekiel.”
“So, I saw. Let me see your hand . . . You know we have ink. You also know Ezekiel has loved you since you were little. If you think you can leave him without it hurting, you’re mistaken.”
“I’ll hurt him and everyone else I love if I stay.”
“Rina, there are ways of becoming a slave while thinking you’re doing the right thing. I thought I was right to marry Dismas, and it brought me nothing but pain. He seemed wealthy, but I didn’t really love him, at least not at first. When I found out what he was, it was too late. There was good in him, but the bad won in the end.”
“I won’t be marrying for money. I’ll be marrying for the security of those I love.”
“They say love is only for the Gentiles, but their marriages are just as bad as ours. It seems love is a myth, but then I see your mother and father. I realize if you find something like that, you fight for it.”
“Aaliyah, I love your son. That’s why I must leave. I can’t explain it, but I hope one day you’ll understand.”
Aaliyah hugged Rina with tears in her eyes. “You know you are like a daughter to me. Please don’t do this. But even if you do, I wish you never-ending happiness.”
Rina was speechless. This was the kind of mother-in-law she always hoped to have. Now it was all out of reach. The more she tried to push it out of her mind, the more it rooted in the core of her heart.