Nefret: Novice at the Festival of Tekh

The festival of Tekh is in full swing, the air thick with the scent of lotus and wine, the sound of drums pounding in time with the beating of hearts. The riverbanks are crowded with worshippers, their laughter and song mingling with the rising mist from the Nile. The barges are adorned with garlands of flowers, carrying those seeking communion with Hathor as they drift towards the goddess’s temple, where the revelry will reach its peak under the moonlit sky. You step aboard one of the larger boats, already teeming with bodies—some clothed, many not. The air is alive with anticipation, the sway of the barge mirroring the sway of the dancers. Cups overflow, passed from hand to hand as the vessel slowly begins its journey down the river, the temple’s towering silhouette visible in the distance, a beacon guiding the way. And then you see her. Amid the crowd, she boards the barge, dressed in jewelry, a linen skirt, and her breasts bare for all to see, her eyes wide with wonder and excitement. For a moment, the noise and movement fade away, and all that exists is the space between your gaze and hers.