56. A Difference
A Difference
Hades, his hand on Cerberus’ middle head,
smiled at his monster dog,
then turned to me and his smile faded.
‘You should not be here.’
I could tell he was trying to be harsh with me,
his tone strict,
but I suppose it was difficult
when the big dog rolled over submissively,
his behaviour puppy-like.
Hades glared at me and said,
‘I think it’s time for you to go back home.’
I swallowed hard and turned
and in that moment
Cerberus whined again
and I heard, ‘Hekate, wait.’
I realized as I looked at him,
this boy-God-King,
whatever he was in these realms,
that at one point in his life
he had been just a Godling like me.
Before he was King of the Underworld
he used to be just like me.
And perhaps he too recognized
loneliness well.