Page 6 of Ceremony of Lust

I don’t have to open the envelope to know it’s a letter written by my grandfather formally giving me the ruby ring. Without this document, my future husband could claim the ring as his, leaving me with nothing.

“Thank you, Grandmother.” I lean forward and place a soft kiss on her cheek. Then she takes the ring from me and places it on the fourth finger of my right hand.

“Finish your cake. Enjoy these moments alone before your life is no longer your own.”

She stands slowly but I tug on her hand, drawing her attention back to me.

“Did you love Grandfather?”

She pats my hand. “Eventually.”

That’s all the hope I’m given. If I am lucky, at some point, I will love my husband.

After I consume the last crumb of cake, I shower and dress in a plain white short-sleeved blouse and a calf-length navy blue skirt. My long brown hair is twisted into a quick bun, and the only accessory I wear is a simple gold chain around my neck. For now, my grandmother’s ring is safely tucked away.

“Hurry, Yael, or you’ll be late,” my grandmother urges me. “I will bring everything you need for tonight’s ceremony.”

She follows me outside and watches as I walk toward the massive white temple in the center of town. I turn back only once to wave, and the distance between us is already too much to bear. I only have seven more days with her.

* * *

The Ripley Templeis a white marble monstrosity, and it’s where I’ll spend what’s left of my birthday. A heaviness settles over me, making me uneasy. This is the part no one talks about.

One of Hadassah’s assistants greets me at the women’s entrance. “Good morning, Yael. Are you ready to begin your journey?”

“Do I have a choice?” I mutter.

The assistant smiles but looks uncomfortable at my obstinance. I know the answer to my own question. Of course, I don’t have a choice. It’s either be matched and married or dishonor my family. I would rather die than hurt my grandmother.

I follow the woman down a long, brightly lit hallway. Everything in the temple is white to symbolize purity. My heels click against the marble floors as I work to keep up with the quick pace of Hadassah’s assistant. She stops at a desk and turns to face me.

“The first step in purifying yourself is cleanliness,” she says, handing me a black box. “Everything you need is in that box. Scrub yourself from top to bottom. Your nails must be neat and clean. Every inch of you must be bare.”

“Bare? What do you mean?” My hand flies to my head, but her eyes are pointed lower. Suddenly, I understand.

“If you don’t want to do it yourself, I can do it for you.”

“No,” I say hastily. “I’ll do it.”

The woman nods her head. “When you are finished, dress in the robe and meet me in the Purification Chamber.”

She leads me into what is essentially a bathroom. It’s white and sterile and cold. There’s another door at the far end of the room, which I assume leads to the Purification Chamber, and on a hook beside it hangs a white robe.

The door closes, and I’m left alone.

I spin and face the door I just entered, wondering whether it’s locked, and if it’s not, can I escape? To hell with being shunned. I’ll take my grandmother and the ring, and we’ll start over. Even in the midst of my panic, I know that’s not possible. My grandmother is too old and fragile to leave Ripley. The most I can hope for is a decent match with a man who will treat me with respect and take care of my grandmother.

With a deep breath, I take a step forward and place the black box on the counter. I lift the lid and examine the contents. I raise my head slightly, and my reflection stares back at me. With a resolute nod, I grab the card on top that lists each step I must take.

Step One: Dry brush.

I grab the rough loofah sponge and stand in the shower, running the coarse fibers over my body. My skin pinkens from the abrasive contact.

Step Two: Shower.

A special body wash has been provided, and I use it to methodically clean every inch of my body. The strong antiseptic smell of the clear gel burns my nose as I lather it across my skin before darting under the scalding spray to rinse it.

Step Three: Shave.