ROSE OF CYRENE
CHAPTER ONE
Rome 33 AD
Anxiety raced through Miriam's bones, leaving her feeling uneasy and disconnected. She could not rest or pinpoint the source of her encumbered aggression. Seeking solace, she strolled through her garden, taking in the fragrance of freshly cut spring flowers that dispensed an ambiance of peace throughout her home.
As she walked, she audited her mental checklist in anticipation of the arrival of her uncle Simon, his wife Aurelia, and their two sons, Alexander and Rufus. Miriam believed exotic flowers ushered a sense of calm and conveyed positive energy, and she dreamed of owning a flower shop.
However, as a woman living in AD 33, according to Cyrene, Judea, and Roman customs, she knew that women had few options beyond saving their virginity, raising children, and waiting to marry a man they may have never met.
Miriam was a woman of exceptional beauty. Her caramel skin glowed like the melanin of Nefertiti, and she had almond-shaped sparkling eyes, cupid's bow lips, long black silky hair, and a petite frame. Men offered her brother Noah goats, horses, and land for her hand in marriage, but Noah believed that no man was good enough for his sister, and Miriam refused to submit to a prearranged marriage.
When Simon and his family finally arrived, Elias, their neighbor who had also lost his father in battle defending the Roman Empire, shouted excitedly that he could see them approaching.
"Praise to Isis. Look at how big Alexander and Rufus are!" said Miriam.
She couldn't help but laugh at how big the boys had grown, with Elias joking that they were the size of Goliath, a giant slain by a young King David a thousand years earlier.
As Simon's family approached the sheep gate outside of Jerusalem, a trio of Roman Praetorian guards demanded that they move to the side of the road. Simon explained that they only needed to travel about 70 yards to their destination, but the guard stretched out his long cast metal sword to stop him.
A procession of soldiers on white horses trotted to the side of the entrance, and the roaring sound of a hostile crowd followed, spilling onto the dusty cobblestone road. Obscenities and cynical laughter abounded in celebration, leaving Miriam feeling more anxious than ever before.
The tumultuous and chaotic environment grew as Praetorian horses galloped through the dry cobble-stone pavement. The sound echoed like cannons against the limestone walls. The atmosphere resembled a brutal and drunken bordello after a war, despite the early hour of the day.
The ruckus crowd of spectators feasted on the cruel public shaming of three men who carried wooden cross beams on their way to a slow, humiliating death.
Amidst the jeering and taunting, Elias eagerly anticipated the impending violence while Miriam sauntered disheartened.
"Hit him again," "How does it feel to be king? You're nothing more than a fraud," they laughed.
Praetorian horses neighed as hoofs pounded against the dry-stone pavement toward Simon. The sound echoed off the limestone walls like cannons.
It was too early in the day to drink off the vine, but the atmosphere resembled a brutal slogging or drunken bordello after a war.
Miriam's face contorted with a mix of emotions as she observed the brutal spectacle before her. Determined to maintain her composure, she carried out a final cleaning inspection, trying to distract herself from the violent scene unfolding outside. However, the relentless sounds of jeering and taunting pierced through the walls, making it impossible to ignore the cruelty just beyond her reach.
"Not again," she whispered, her voice tinged with sadness and frustration. Her heart pounded in her chest, aching at the sight of the suffering before her. She couldn't comprehend the depths of human cruelty, and it weighed heavily on her conscience.
Occasionally, she covered her ears, trying to shut out the tormenting sounds that seemed to oreberate in her mind. The conflicting emotions inside her threatened to overwhelm, leaving her feeling helpless and disheartened.
"Why are people so cruel? I can’t imagine what their mothers must be going through," she wondered aloud, her voice barely audible. The debauchery of it all was almost too much to bear.
Miriam retreated into the safety of her home. Her thoughts were a tumultuous whirlwind of anger, sorrow, and disbelief, each emotion vying for dominance within her.
As she closed the door behind her, the sounds of the crowd were muffled, but the images of the violent scene were already etched into her mind. Her heart continued to race, and she felt a deep sense of unease and disconnectedness because knew that she couldn't change the events unfolding.
The crowd continued to revel in the pain and humiliation of the three men.
Eagerly awaiting Simon's arrival, Elias was now captivated by the spectacle before him.
A commander in a blue chariot trimmed with gold watched, flanked by four soldiers. His chestnut horse trotted in place, tail wagging rapidly.
Despite the danger, Simon couldn't help but feel compelled to help those in need. He walked away from his family within a few feet of the prisoners.
Beaten, bloodied, and whipped, the flesh exposed her bones. The third man had been whipped with a whip sewn with lead, nails, and broken glass. His hair was matted with dried blood, and his eyes were bruised, with welts and scars covering his skin.
The weight of a heavy pine beam rested on his left shoulder, causing him to limp. Simon shuddered with each crack of the whip, unable to bear the prisoner's pain. However, the crowd cheered, revealing public embarrassment.
The whip cracked against the prisoner’s back. He staggered forward and collapsed, a sandal partly slipping off his foot. The savagery and violence left Simon feeling powerless and overwhelmed; his heart sank as he looked around, searching for any sign of the third man's family or friends. But all he could see were the faces of strangers, some filled with anger and others with sadness.
A priest in a colorful breastplate was at the center of an ad hoc meeting of the Sanhedrin; his face twisted into a grimace. He seemed to stir the crowd, urging the impostor's crucifixion.
Simon noticed a group of women clad in veils and long, flowing dresses observed in sorrow. They tried ministering to the third man, but the guards pushed them away.
Simon continued to search for his friends. On the outskirts of the crowd, Simon could see fearful men hiding in the shadows, with guilt and shame, trying to avoid identification.
Suddenly, the sound of a whip cracking filled the air. The crowd erupted in cheers as the third man’s flesh ripped from his bones. The executioners shouted at him to get up, but his legs were paralyzed.
"Get up! I said, get up! You can't die here! Get up, or I'll whip you until you do!" the guard roared.
The defendant struggled to lift his head from the hot alluvial pavement. The tiny sliver between his fluttering eyelashes made breathing difficult, leaving Simon feeling helpless and hopeless.
Simon's heart aced as the defendant's gaze locked with his. His eyes pierced into Simon's soul, causing him to take two steps back.
The maddened crowd demanded more, but the officers focused on their objective. The whip-wielding Praetorian Guard received a signal from the Commander in his chariot to find someone to carry the cross.
As the guards searched for a suitable candidate, a familiar voice whispered from behind Simon. It was Noah, his nephew, a Praetorian Guard. Noah pleaded with Simon to leave and go back to his aunt. But Simon turned slowly to the accused man, who continued to stare at him intently.
A girl knelt next to Simon, crying. The prisoner rolled his eyes in her direction.
Simon knelt down. She trembled. Simon lowered both hands and turned palms up. Long, deep lines in her upturned pink palms. The long, shiny folds in the middle of her hand formed an A.
She put her hands on top of his. They were soft as pillows. Simon gently held his hands around hers.
"Help him, please help him," She cried.
Simon's eyes filled with tears. He looked at the defendant, stood up, and then looked back at his wife and children.
In his wife's eyes, he saw a blend of nervousness and concern, mirroring the tumultuous emotions coursing through the air. The innocent eyes of the children widened with amazement, trying to grapple with the gravity of the unfolding scene before them.
Miriam ran outside the house into the street to get Simon's attention. Simon saw her, smiled, and took three steps toward the man on the ground.
Consternation churned as the guards searched to find someone to carry the accused. The crowd noise continued to magnify.
“Behind you, Noah, behind you, get the man behind you. Noah! Noah! the guard yelled.
Noah heard the commander, but walked in the opposite direction to give Simon time to get away. Simons attention continued to be fix on his family. Then, with a gentle smile, Simon nodded towards his family, with a gesture of love and strength to ease their pain. With resolute determination, he took three deliberate steps towards the man lying on the ground. The weight of the moment rested on his shoulders, and he knew there was no turning back.
"I want that one! Get him! Noah! That one, pointing at Simon. If he refuses, put your sword in his back and force him!" the guard yelled.
Noah could no longer avoid his peer’s demands and pushed Simon from behind as if he didn't know him.
“I told you to go away, uncle! Why did you stay? Noah asked. Simon didn't answer.
"No, no, no," Aurelia cried.
Simon heard her wail through the static of the crowd and turned again to acknowledge her. She dismounted the chariot. Simon raised both hands to heaven and smiled. She recognized a sense of peace and calm in his demeanor. She exhaled and returned the smile.
Miriam hearing Aurelias cry, peeked outside the window to witness Simon amidst the chaotic scene. Without a moment's hesitation, she rushed out of the house and into the street, determined to get Simon's attention amid the overwhelming mayhem.
The acrid scent of haterade mixed with the distinct smell of sweat from beneath the horses' legs filled the air. With a sudden leap and animated gestures, she sought to capture his focus.
"Simon! Simon!" Miriam's voice rang out, filled with desperation. But Simon’s attention was fixed to the man on the ground.
Noah, aware of the danger, shook his head no, signaling her to stay out of it as he frantically searched for someone else, to divert the guards' attention away from Simon.
Miriam's hands trembled as she instinctively covered her mouth in disbelief. Her eyes were fixed on Simon, who stood among the crowd, witnessing the agonizing screams of the prisoners as the whip of the guard tore another detachment of flesh from their bones. The horrifying sounds filled her ears, each strike like a bolt of lightning through her soul. She felt a wave of helplessness and horror wash over her as she continued to watch, unable to tear her eyes away from the scene before her.
"I want that one! Get him! Noah!” the guard continued to yell.
Noah turned to Simon, regret etched on his face.
“Uncle, you've made up your mind; come on.” He said firmly as to compel him.
The loop traveling along the Praetorian whip cracked at the feet of Simon. Unruffled, Simon focused on the accused. The crowd continued to throw stones.
"This is wrong," Miriam whispered to Elias, her voice trembling with emotion. "We can't just stand by and watch them do this."
Determined to reach Simon, Miriam ran towards him, attempting to fight her way through the dense crowd. But the sea of people was relentless, and she found herself being pushed to the ground, with her cheek resting against the dry rubble pavement.
As she lay there, she caught a glimpse of the little girl beside her, overcome with fear and confusion. Miriam's heart was filled with sorrow for the innocent child caught in such brutality. As she watched the little girl quiver, She enfolded the fragile figure in her embrace, to offer solace.
She knew that she couldn't erase the darkness surrounding them, but in that small act of compassion, she extended a glimmer of hope.
In one swift move, Simon slid under the prisoner's shoulder and lifted him up. The prisoner gasped, trying to find his balance, and then his gaze met the crowd's, followed by a connection with Miriam. In those eyes, she witnessed something profound. Despite the persecution and sadness surrounding them, he radiated an aura of —compassion, forgiveness, and peace.
Miriam and the little girl lifted each other from the ground, their gazes fixed unwaveringly upon the prisoner
Simon advanced a few paces, his arms wrapped around the waist of the captive. The prisoner placed a hand on Simon's arm, halting him, and whispered into his ear, "Angeliofóros tou Theoú." The words escaped his lips.
In an instant, Simon's composure crumbled, and he found himself overcome by tears. The prisoner gently released his grip on Simon's arm.
Tranquil, translucent, purpose confirmed. Simon took a few more steps with him, then walked back to carry the cross alone to Galgatha, the ultimate destination for the grim ritual of crucifixion.
A week earlier, ushered in as the answer to prayer, the accused man was being led to his death as a false prophet.
As Miriam turned to assist the little girl, her heart sank as she realized the child had vanished in the chaos. The turmoil of emotions intensified within her, torn between the urgency to find the girl and the longing to embrace Aurelia and the children.
Seeing Elias heading towards her, Miriam thought he would rush to her side, but to her surprise, he chose to follow the crowd, weaving through the peripheral onlookers as they faded into the distance.
She understood his determination to see this through, but it left her feeling slightly abandoned in the center of the overwhelming scene.
She turned and ran towards Aurelia and the boys, who were standing not too far away. As she reached them, Miriam enveloped Aurelia in a tight embrace. There were no words needed; their connection was that of shared strength and understanding. She then turned her attention to Alexander and Rufus, their innocent eyes still wide with shock at the unfolding events.
Together, they walked to her home to find strength from the turmoil that surrounded them.
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