The sound of drums hammered into my skull.

It woke me.

Something peppery drifted from the dining hall.

I sat up, my hands under Syphyllis as he buried his nose against my waist.

Each beat of the drums climbed from my toes to the top of my head.

Syphyllis whined as he rubbed against my leg, smelling the scent of fried pork and chicken with a hint of lemon.

To me, it smelled like something else.

My eyes widened, and I raised my hands to cover my ears, realizing the air was heavy with sweat and bodies.

Whispers brushed against my ears like insects.

My body shook.

In the corner, I saw my mother seated on my uncle’s lap, their faces too close, their voices low.

Something caught my eye at the large stone table covered in red paper flowers,

circled by food where Syphyllis immediately ran.

Before I could stop him, the drums beat louder.

The sounds around me grew overwhelming.

At the center of the table, Infanta was dressed in a long, faded white lace dress, dancing with a wide smile.

As I moved closer, my eyes fixed on the way her veil shimmered in the light as she danced.

Small bells sewn into it rang sharply, sending vibrations through my fingertips.

My stomach growled.

The sight of food pulled my attention away from her.

The chicken smelled of pepper, the pork faintly of lemon.

Saliva pooled in my mouth as I grabbed a handful and stuffed it in.

Syphyllis nudged my arm, gnawing on a chicken thigh.

I kept eating, stuffing meat into my mouth.

With every bite, the air felt heavier.

Infanta’s veil reflected light across my face.

When I looked up at her, my body froze.

Her eyes were vacant and unfocused, saliva slipping from the corner of her mouth as she danced.

Slowly, her body collapsed.

She hit the plates, crushing food beneath her.

The crowd fell silent.

The drums stopped.

My body stayed frozen as Syphyllis bit my shirt and dragged me back toward our room.

From the doorway, I watched.

No one spoke.

My father stood and shouted.

“Infanta, the bride, our pride.”

The room remained silent.

“She will bring us food and resources. She will live as our honor.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

I watched as my mother pressed a white substance beneath Infanta’s nose.

My blood ran cold.

My father raised his fist.

“This is right and just. Infanta will be treated as a wife.”

“TO INFANTA!”

Laughter erupted.

The drums began again, shaking my body.

Infanta stood and resumed dancing.

A couple passed nearby, barely clothed.

I lowered my head and covered my eyes.

“Lucky girl. She’ll get all the food she wants,”the girl whispered

While the man laughed.

I sat down, rubbing Syphyllis’s head,

my eyes still fixed on Infanta dancing on the table.

I gripped my dog’s head and whispered,

“I wish I was the bride.”

Syphyllis ran forward, jumped onto the table, and rushed toward Infanta.

He tugged at her veil but could not reach it.

“Syphyllis, come back!” I screamed.

Instead, he grabbed a lace handkerchief from her pocket and ran to me.

He bit the corner, unfolding it, then dropped it onto my head.

I laughed.

“You’re the best, baby,” I said.

Syphyllis whined, tail wagging.

I hugged him.

No one noticed.

“If only you could bring me all my wishes,” I whispered without thinking, kissing his wrinkled forehead.