Pharai
I made it home and the noise followed me in.
Hathor and Horus in the backseat the whole drive, talking over each other like they'd been holding it in for 8 hours.
"—and then she asked if I personally blessed the sistrum in 1350 BCE—"
"—they wanted me to sign their books. In cuneiform. I did it. They cried—"
"—the fridge is still three feet in the air, Heather says it's 'for research'—"
I said nothing. Just watched Cairo go by through the window. The lights blurred. Suetekh wasn't home yet. His text was on my phone: Grading your papers. Don't wait up. Sleep.
Domestic. Terrifying. Weirdly tender.
The apartment was quiet when I got in. Too quiet after the cafeteria and the lecture halls.
I didn't eat. I couldn't. I ran a bath instead.
Hot water. Lavender oil. The steam fogged the mirror until I couldn't see myself.
I sank down until the water came up to my chin and just stayed there.
