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He explained that the World Heritage property has three archaeological areas: Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Villas of the Mysteries and Papyri. There are also the Villa of Poppaea and Villa of Lucius Crassius Tertius in Torre Annunziata.”
“Unfortunately,” Alessandro explained, “a thick layer of volcanic ash and lapilli largely buried Pompeii, and Herculaneum disappeared under pyroclastic surges and flows.” I had read about this in my history class before; there was a massive eruption that wiped out a significant portion of the landmarks and population.
We entered through Porta Marina Superiore, one of the ancient city’s seven gates, and strolled along the main streets, eventually reaching the Forum, the heart of the city and the center of public life. Alessandro pointed out that we could see Mount Vesuvius overlooking the city from where we were standing. I eagerly snapped pictures and videos of this sight.
Along the way, we saw many interesting places like the basilica, thermal baths, temples, a bakery, and the Great Theater of Pompeii.
Dillon, with a genuine interest, asked, “Why is this place so famous? I’ve read books about it but never really got the archaeological facts.”
“Pompeii became famous after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, burying the city under 19 feet of volcanic ash. Its ruins were uncovered in the late 16th century. While some believed the eruption was divine punishment for the city’s sins, this is largely a myth without strong evidence,” Alessandro explained. We had a chance to see plaster casts of those who were in the city at the time of the eruption, and it sent a shiver down my spine. It was eerie, and I clung to Dillon for most of that part.
We also viewed well-preserved artworks, mosaics, and frescoes that transported us nearly 2,000 years back in time.
This was Dillon’s favorite part. Art had always been close to his heart, and watching him so captivated by the paintings was heartwarming. I loved watching him be passionate about things.
“Now, we’ve reached our final stop in the museum, which is the Lupanar Brothel. A brothel is essentially a—”
“A whorehouse,” Dillon interjected.
I raised an eyebrow and asked, “Confident answer, huh?”
“I’ve been to a brothel before,” he said, putting his arm around my shoulder as if to reassure me. “Now, let the guide continue.”
“The brothel gets its name from ‘lupa,’ a Latin word meaning ‘prostitute.’ The prostitutes working in the brothel were mostly Greek and Oriental slaves who were paid between two and eight Asses. A glass of wine cost one Ass. The brothel was their workplace,” the guide explained.
I found it unexpectedly interesting to learn about prostitution and didn’t quite like how interested Dillon seemed in the topic.
“You seem a bit too interested in this,” I whispered sharply.
“Precious,” he sighed audibly. “It’s just part of our lesson. Relax and focus,” he whispered back.
“The building has two floors: one for the owner and slaves, and another with five rooms featuring built-in beds, separated by curtains. A latrine is at the end of the corridor under the staircase. Erotic paintings on the corridor walls provide a preview of what happened in the Lupanare.”
Alessandro then told us that we were free for the rest of the day.
We spotted a little café on the side that served light lunches. It wasn’t the typical American comfort food, but the aroma was tantalizing.
“Are you ready for some food, babe?” Dillon asked. “I’m always ready to eat,” I replied with a smile.
We sat in the outdoor seating area, which was truly beautiful. Tiny green umbrellas provided shade on the tables, and the chairs were made of brown glass. It was unlike anything I had seen before, but then again, I was in Italy, a place that felt like pure magic.
The server came to take our orders. I ordered shrimp pasta with lemonade and Dillon ordered risotto, pizza, and a bottle of water.
“Why did you order two meals?” I asked.
“Because you’ll eat yours, have some of mine, and then probably get hungry again. I can’t have my girl starving in this beautiful city,” he replied.
Before I could answer, he started speaking again. “But the real question is, why are you starving yourself? I’ve watched you eat for the past three days we’ve been here, and it’s not what you’d normally eat. Why?”
I sighed and said, “Well, I do eat, but I’ve been feeling like I’ve gained some weight recently. I don’t hate my body, but I don’t love it right now.”
Leaning across the table, he gently caressed my cheek and said, “I don’t know what it’s like inside your mind, but trust me, it’s all in your head. The only thing wrong with your body is that you don’t show it off enough, precious. We’ll work on that confidence together, whatever it takes,” he reassured me.
“Whatever it takes,” I echoed.
I loved him. Not every man in the world would be as patient as Dillon was with me. But not every man in the world was Dillon.
To the world, he was a narcissistic, playboy monster, but to me, he was the world, and I doubted that would ever change.
