The first time she saw her,
In the public Hammam. It was early in the morning, there was no one in there, but her at first.
The damp air, and the warmth on her skin.
She scrubbed her skin away, and it was time to get in the shower.
She was looking for a cubicle, when she opened a door.
Why did she do that?
The door was already closed! why open the closed door? there was something she wanted to see.
Then she saw the woman.
with very very long red hair. The red hair was so rare in this part of the world that it terrified her.
The woman was completely naked, hairless and smooth, with a smile on her face. A smile that was unusually big, as if her mouth was stretching wide. She was not bothered
She was too terrified to look down, but she finally did and there they were, two hooves. She felt sick, like vomiting, but she also felt wet, and not from the dampness of the bathr.
She felt faint.
Then it all went black.
When she woke up, the Hammam washer was holding her head in her lap, and splashing cold water on her face. In a flash she moved her self away from her, not knowing who it was at first. But took comfort when she saw the familiar and round face of the elderly woman, who she had known since a young age, who had scrubbed her back, her mother’s back and maybe even her grandmother’s.
The washer said: Did you pass out from the heat?
She didn’t answer.
Then the washer gave her a glass of water.
On her walk home, she couldn’t get the image out of her head, the red hair, the ...
she didn’t even want to say the words. Her walk turned into running, she was terrified.
She spent the next 2 weeks at home. Blaming any illness she could, her monthlies, headaches, even pretending to faint again. She had the town doctor come and visit her.
An elderly man with a long salt and pepper beard. She hated his wrinkled and cold hands touching her ribcage. Eventually she perked up and said she was fine, just to avoid his touch, the man looked disappointed.
He was famous for bleeding patients, for minor causes. Some believed he made medicine from the blood, and fed it to the town’s land owners.
Now that she had admitted to feeling better, she had to start contributing to the household. Her mother sent her to the bazar to buy fresh herbs and naan.
The smell of the fresh basil and dill made her feel slightly better, like it was all a fever dream, and life was back to normal.
IN the bakery queue she noticed a woman, who was hiding her face. It felt like she was doing so to avoid her.
She followed the woman out of the bakery,
The woman clearly knew she was being followed,
Once they reached a quiet ally, the woman stopped, and turned around to face her, she opened her chador, first to show her face, then to reveal her naked body. It was her, the ginger hair, the overwhelming smile, but the shoes where covering her feet.
Who are you?
She did not answer.
Why are you showing your self to me? please leave me alone.
her grin turned into confusion.
I just don’t want to die.
Now she was speaking, but her lips weren’t moving. It was like she was speaking inside her head.
You don’t want to die?
That’s what you want isn’t it? to kill me?
She laughed
(A loud squicky sound)
Why are you so afraid of death?
Because I’m only 18. And I don’t want to burn in hell.
It’s not that bad!
The smile came back.
You terrify me, please, don’t show yourself to me anymore.
She closed her eyes, hoping she would disappear.
After a few seconds she opened her eye again s. And now she was standing closer, observing her.
She said, again through her mind, without her lips moving
That trick only works on ghosts. And I’m not a ghost! You cant get rid of me.
I have to go now,.
And she just disappeared as if she was only a fragment of her imagination.
After that day she could not stop thinking about her. The red hair, so red, like the fires of hell, or at least she had heard.
They say they hang you from your hair in hell, if you’ve shown it to men you weren’t supposed to show it to.
She couldnt get the image of her breasts out of her head. Eventho she had seen many breasts before at the hammam, hers were different.
That night, she woke up as she felt like she was being watched.
She lit the candle on the side of her bed, and there she was, wearing only a lace blouse, with her breasts on show.
You were thinking of me.
Is that why you’re here?
What happened to your feet?
The woman took off her shoes, her feet were normal, only slightly large. Then the transformation happened.
Her feet started to slowly change colour to grey, extending, and growing hair around the ankles, then turning round and round, and suddenly there they were, her hooves.
Her mouth was dry, she was terrified. couldn’t swallow. Maybe she did have a fever after all.
Now you, show me a trick!
I don’t have any tricks.
Are you sure?
Then she leaned in and kissed her.
Her mouth so warm, and slippery, slightly salty. Not like any kiss she had ever had before.
They both knew what they had to do next.
The next day was the eve of the new year. The day the whole world turns upside down.
They sought a brooker, who only agreed to see them because they pleaded, as she was fully booked for ceremonies.
That night they exchanged their vows of sisterhood.
The broker took a tray of sweets to the women. In the middle of the tray was a carefully placed wooden dildo with a leather base. She took the sequinned white scarf and placed it over the tray.
Then they said the following words:
Look at Baghdad and you see all classes of women performing sex
with one another.
You will see silver mortars for sifting saffron,
When they place their plates on top of each other,
You will hear wild screams all the way to the skies.
That night, they made love at the woman’s house. their sweaty bodies, rubbing and brushing against each other’s.
How many times have you done this before?
Why do you need to know that?
Because this is my first time
Is it really?
There was a silence.
You know what we have to do next right?
She knew, and she was terrified.
Is this how you became you?
No, I was born like this
How many women have you turned?
Many, I have lived for centuries, before this country was a country.
And how many of you are there?
More than I could count.
What will happen to me?
You will become powerful, you can breath under water, you do not need to feed, you won’t feel shame, you will only take pleasures.
But she was still terrified. To give up her life, to be with this women and ones like her forever.
not apply to her anymore? once she becomes like her? Maybe becoming like her is the only way to avoid that destiny. To be like them. To do the hanging and not be hung.
She fell asleep in her arms. Her face against her soft breasts, the smell of rue and soap all she could breath in. This would be the last time she sleeps.
When she woke up the bed was empty.
She had left a note, and a few strands of her red hair.
When you’re certain, burn this.
The pleasure of the sex, the attention and the touch made her certain, but there was still a part of her that remembered all the childhood stories, the women hanging by their breasts for eternity, would that now not apply to her anymore? once she becomes like her?
Maybe becoming like her is the only way to avoid that destiny. To be like them.
To do the hanging and not be hung.
She fell asleep in her arms. Her face against the soft breasts, the smell of rue and soap all she could breath in. This would be the last time she sleeps.
When she woke up the bed was empty.
She had left a note, and a few strands of her red hair.
When you’re ready,
Burn
This.
