Very late, actually, as the serving area was about to close for the afternoon and there were only a few people still eating. So naturally we chose to... eat together, seating ourselves in the closest booth, which was in the back corner.We sat facing each other and made the usual small talk between people whose connection is long but not particularly deep: recent activities, mutual friends and acquaintances, etc. But something about our situation - isolated in a dark corner of the restaurant –. " Life has been generous to our clan. As long as we have behaved according to the rules and traditions of our clan, we have been prosperous without much effort, we have been influential, and we have all lived long and active lives." A very few times through history, a clanmember has fallen in love with a person, who did not want to adhere to our rules. Usually they have found out in time, so no marriage wows have been given, but the two times a prospective spouse refused, or agreed with fingers. I celebrated earlier this evening with my father and sister. Dinner and cake. A quiet family gathering.Now it’s just me. Home alone.I draw a bubble bath. Lavender and vanilla scented steam fills the room as I light candles. I lower myself into the foaming tub, balancing a glass of sweet wine in one hand. I linger, enjoying my wine, sipping the syrupy liquor and holding it briefly on my tongue before swallowing. When I finish my drink, I set the long-stemmed glass aside and relax more deeply. He looked at his watch and said: “You’re early. I need a shower and then we can start. Come in the bedroom with me.”I walked into his big bedroom and saw the size of the bed he had. It was unmade and looked like there was a fight, covers were everywhere and there was a huge puddle in the middle of the bed. He said: “I had company here a few minutes ago. You’re early so maybe you can help me change the sheets.”I told him I would and we took off the old ones and put fresh silk sheet on the bed..