Arretium, circa 128 BCE
Death, when it comes, rarely arrives with a knock at the door, waiting politely while one prepares oneself. This is a lesson I had learned long before, yet still the following events struck me with a force beyond any I had experienced in many centuries.
Two days before it came, Salia was [...]

Posted on January 31st, 2006 by Zsallia
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Pennsylvania, April, 2005 CE
She woke me up the next morning some time after sunrise. She was already dressed and told me if I didn’t shower and come downstairs soon I’d miss breakfast.
When I got downstairs she seemed cool, distant. She was making pancakes, eggs, and bacon, puttering around and humming absent-mindedly. She insisted I [...]

Posted on January 27th, 2006 by Zsallia
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And so I found myself that next morning on a sun-drenched stone patio engaged in light verbal sparring with an old Greek, envying him his family and the joy they gave him. Once Marieko sent Salia on her way he turned his gaze fully upon me and his displeasure was clear. I tried to [...]

Posted on January 19th, 2006 by Zsallia
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Circa 129 BCE
I watched as the young man left the patio, his olive skin rippling over smooth muscles, his body alive with energy that can only be captured by youth in full bloom.
“He’s beautiful,” I offered, then stifled a laugh as I saw Marieko’s spine stiffen. “There are things I could teach him… but [...]

Posted on January 16th, 2006 by Zsallia
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What follows is the recounting of a conversation told not by me, but by my companion. I will admit to finding some of his characterizations mildly irksome.
-ZM

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Ann Arbor, March 2005
I stared at her, waiting for her to continue, but she just stared [...]

Posted on January 9th, 2006 by Zsallia
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