Forbidden Friendship
an excerpt

The ornate wooden gate rattled for a moment before a tousled dark head showed itself momentarily as its owner peered into the alley, looking both ways down the narrow passageway paved with flat stones. With a muffled giggle, the head withdrew, only to re-emerge properly covered by a light-colored veil. A young woman of about 14 scampered past several similar gates, stopping at the largest gate to be seen in the alley. Tilting her head, she appeared to listen intently, then raised her hand and knocked quietly.

A woman’s voice spoke from inside. “Who is there?”

“It’s me, Sarah,” the girl responded.

The door opened. “Miriam’s not dressed yet.” An older woman looked affectionately upon the girl in the alley, and taking note of her sparkling eyes, smiled in mock exasperation. “Very well, go on up.”

Giving the woman an impulsive hug, Sarah sped across the tiled floor and up the wide marble stairs, leaving the soft swishing sound of her sandals in her wake. Giving two quick taps on the door of her best friend’s room, she whispered, “Miriam, it’s me. Can I come in?”

Amidst the sounds of rustling fabric, a girl’s voice answered. “Of course. But close the door quickly, for I’m not dressed yet.”

Sarah slipped into the room and faced a girl of about her own age. Though superficially very similar in appearance, the two girls presented quite a contrast on closer inspection. Both girls were of average height, both had dark hair, and flawless, olive colored complexions, and both dressed in the finest of fabrics. However, whereas Sarah was the acknowledged beauty of Capernaum, with flashing black eyes, patrician eyebrows, and a perfectly formed nose, Miriam face was more pleasant than beautiful, and her eyes held the calm gentleness of a clear pool of undisturbed water.
A triumphant smile curved Sarah’s lips as she faced her friend. With her eyes wide, Miriam asked, “What happened, Sarah? Why are you here so early?”

“Jairus and his father were at our house quite late last night.” The young woman spoke casually and examined one perfect fingernail, but the glee in her eyes belied her calm exterior.

Understanding dawned in the other’s eyes. “Do you mean… ? Are you betrothed?” Both girls burst into excited giggles as Miriam threw her arms around her best friend and danced her around the spacious bedchamber. Footsteps approached in the hall, but the quiet voice of Miriam’s mother was heard, and the two girls remained undisturbed.

“Oh, Sarah. I’m so happy for you! Betrothed to Jairus… it’s what you’ve always wanted.”

Sarah’s glee now overflowed in a torrent of words. As Miriam finished getting dressed, and brushed and fastened her hair, Sarah told her every word that had been spoken the previous evening as the two fathers came to an agreement. “Jairus stared at me almost the entire evening. I was so flustered, I didn’t know where to look.” Miriam shot a quick glance at her friend with an amused smile. She’d never seen Sarah flustered, but decided to give her friend the benefit of the doubt.

“You must be so happy,” Miriam spoke when the flow of words finally ceased. “Jairus is so handsome.”

“And rich. And strong.” Sarah added, sitting amidst the luxurious silken coverings on the bed, with her knees hugged to her chest.

Miriam turned her back to obscure her face as doubt now stole her smile. Jairus was strong, but his strength didn’t seem to be paired with gentleness in the way she was accustomed to in her own father. Though her father had been stern at times while she was growing up, he’d never harmed her, nor made her feel foolish or insignificant.

Miriam would never forget an incident she’d witnessed about three years earlier. Her mother had sent her to find her younger brother. Deciding to search first on the hillside north of town where boys often hung out when they weren’t working, she was hurrying that direction when she heard the unmistakable sound of boys’ laughter. Not wanting to seem like she was intruding if her brother wasn’t in the group, she peeked around the corner down the alley from which the laughter was coming. She was stunned at what she saw.

Three boys were tormenting an old, three-legged dog. The ringleader was clearly Jairus. As though he felt her eyes boring into him, he looked up and caught her horrified gaze. With no hint of shame in his expression, but defensiveness in his tone of voice, he hurled the last few stones in his hand at the whimpering animal and stalked past her. “Don’t worry about that mutt,” he spat. “He’s weak and broken – a loser.”

She’d returned home, shaken from the encounter, without finding her brother. She was relieved that he’d arrived home before her, as she was loathe to explain the reason for her return. She’d never spoken of that day to anyone.
Forcing a bright smile back to her face, she spoke laughingly as she joined her friend on the bed. “All the young men in town will have broken hearts once this news gets out. You must have at least five other suitors.”

“Eight,” Sarah answered with satisfaction. “Ya’acov, Ben-oni, Elias, Moshe, Joshua, Judah, Melchi, and Levi.” She ticked the names off one by one on her fingers, not noticing that shadow that passed over her friend’s face at one of the names.

“Elias?”

Sarah blinked at the hurt in Miriam’s voice. “Well, not really. It was actually his father who was hoping for a business alliance with my father. We all know Elias is sweet on you.” She rose and walked to the window. Even mild-mannered Miriam might be angry if she knew how carefully she’d cultivated Elias’s interest in her. The most difficult part of it had been to time her smiles and flirtations when Miriam wouldn’t be around to see. She was certain that Elias’s devotion to Miriam would quickly be reestablished; really, she had just been playing an innocent game to see if her famed beauty was up to the challenge of ensnaring a heart that had already been given elsewhere.

Sarah and Jairus’s wedding was the most magnificent the little town had ever seen. Miriam, now betrothed to Elias, was her chief attendant and took great pleasure in her friend’s joy. The feasting went on for days, and consisted of the finest wines and delicacies. Miriam’s own wedding would be less grand. Though her family was the wealthiest in Capernaum, they believed in practicing moderation.

By their sixteenth birthdays, both young women seemed to be well on their way to seeing all their dreams come true. Miriam was newly wedded to Elias, and Sarah was expecting her first child.