My Tears

Arwa's brown eyes narrowed slightly as she examined my work. With her hands on her hips and her head tilted, she observed with meticulous scrutiny. There was a serious yet satisfied expression on her face.

"Arwa, I always approach my work with great seriousness and dedication," I said, seeking a kind of approval. "What do you think of the walls and ceiling? Do you like them?"

The elderly woman nodded, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "Alek, you've done a craftsman's job," she said in an appreciative tone. "That old husband of mine always kept putting things off. Thank the gods you've completed it with your own hands. Thanks to you, we'll be protected from the rain and the freezing cold this winter."

Her words filled me with pride. However, I couldn't tell if her sharp tongue was a trait of old age or simply part of her nature since youth. What I did know was that she was a straightforward, open-hearted woman.

At that moment, Daneel's voice rose from the fireplace. "Arwa, I can hear everything you're saying from here," he said, not taking his eyes off the fire. His wife shrugged slightly, giving the impression that she didn't care whether he heard or not. Not wanting their conversation to escalate into a debate, I decided to change the subject.

"Daneel, I think you must be quite skilled at cooking meat," I said, trying to soften the atmosphere. "Otherwise, Arwa wouldn't entrust the task to you."

The old man fell into a brief silence, his eyes drifting into the distance. "Yes, lad, I'm good at cooking meat," he said, his voice filled with the weight of years past. "Back when I was a soldier, I always prepared meals for my comrades. I gained a lot of experience, and I was well known as a good cook in my circle."

After speaking, he fell quiet again, his face settling into a distant longing. Meanwhile, Arwa, exhausted from her long walk, sat silently by the fire. I focused on watching Daneel. He carefully placed the smooth, pre-washed stones among the embers in the fireplace. Then, taking out a sharp knife, he began slicing the meat in a way that would maximise its surface area. Once the cutting was complete, he selected a pinch of spices from the array he had laid out on the table—dried tree leaves, crushed red pepper, thyme, and coarse salt. He poured the preheated butter into a clay bowl and mixed it with the spices before carefully rubbing the mixture onto the meat.

As soon as Daneel placed the meat on the fire-warmed stones, the kitchen filled with a mouth-watering aroma. The "sizzle" sound it made upon touching the stones heightened our hunger even more. However, Daneel was entirely focused on his task, only realising I had been watching him when he finished arranging the meat.

"Alek, this must be your first time eating meat cooked on stone, isn't it?" he asked, turning to me. "I'm sure you'll love the taste. Now, I'll place some other ingredients beside the embers to complement the meat."

He brought out a few vegetables from the kitchen: sweet potatoes, red onions, a dark-coloured root resembling a carrot, and a vegetable that looked like a purple aubergine. I examined these unfamiliar vegetables closely, having never seen them before in this world. Daneel, wasting no time, placed them among the embers.

"These roasted vegetables will enhance the flavour of the meat. Also, buba fruit juice pairs beautifully with it. This juice has a slightly tangy yet sweet aroma, balancing the richness of the meat. Could you squeeze some buba fruit juice and fill a jug with it?" he asked.

"Of course, I'd be happy to help. But I've never heard of buba fruit before. I don't know how to extract its juice," I admitted.

"Buba is a dark green fruit, about the size of two fists, filled with many small seeds inside," Daneel explained, pointing towards a woven basket under the counter. "You can press them with the stone juicer to extract the juice."

I nodded in understanding and got to work. Taking the stone juicer in my hands, I peeled the fruit's outer skin, revealing bright yellow, jelly-like seeds inside. Though it slightly resembled a pomegranate, the texture of its seeds was entirely different. Pressing the fruit, I collected its juice in the clay jug I had placed below.

Meanwhile, Daneel had returned to the fireplace, talking about splitting firewood. He looked quite tired after chopping wood all day. "You can set the floor table, Alek," he said, adding more wood to the fire. "I need to rest."

I began setting the table, placing clay plates and cups in position. I put small, white flatbreads in the centre. However, I soon realised that cutlery was not used in this world. People either ate with wooden spoons or with their hands. The idea of abandoning basic table manners unsettled me.

"Daneel," I said, "in my world, using a fork and knife is important. It helps us eat without dirtying our hands. I'd like you to try it too. If possible, could you carve a wooden fork?"

The old man pondered for a moment before quickly crafting a simple two-pronged fork. It was basic but functional. As he examined his creation, I noticed Arwa smiling.

Once the meat was cooked, I arranged it in slices on flat clay plates. I placed the roasted vegetables in a separate dish and set them on the table. Finally, I poured the buba fruit juice into the clay cups.

Daneel gently nudged Arwa to wake her up. "Arwa, wake up, the food is ready," he said. The elderly woman opened her eyes and settled herself by the fire. She was tired, but as she sat at the table, she looked around with a contented expression.

Before we started eating, I demonstrated how to use the fork and knife to Daneel and Arwa. "This object in my hand is called a fork," I explained. "It helps us eat without making a mess. The knife is used to cut the meat neatly. Try it—it won't take long to get used to."

Arwa held the fork as I had shown her and began using it carefully. However, Daneel initially attempted to stab his food with it like a spear. When Arwa burst into laughter at his attempt, he looked slightly embarrassed but soon adjusted to using it properly.

The meal was exquisite. But with every bite, a growing emptiness settled inside me. I thought of my family. When my eyes filled with tears, I couldn't stop them from falling.