199. The End of Something
The End of Something
Styx stepped forward
but I raised a hand to stop her.
‘No.’ A word laced with pain.
‘Please, let us explain,’
Pallas tried now,
but I shook my head.
‘You had years to explain.
There is nothing left
for you to say.’
Styx’s eyes
were agonized.
‘But where will you go?’
I felt the warmth
of Thanatos’ hand
take mine.
‘She will go with me.’
I turned to him
and he smiled reassuringly.
‘I will build my own home,’
I said, but Thanatos spoke.
‘I will help you.’
There was such a gentleness
to his words. You will not
have to do this alone.
Charon put a comforting
hand on my shoulder.
‘And I will aid too.’
Friendship. Kindness.
I did not need rescuing,
but I did need those.
‘You cannot do this.’
Styx’s voice broke.
‘I made a promise, Hekate.’
I shook my head.
‘You made that promise
to my mother. Not to me.’
This schism between us
was only widening now
and for a time that felt
like a thousand years
during which none of us spoke.
Then I said to Thanatos
and to Charon,
‘We must leave.’
And we did.
From the rubble
and ashes of the life
I used to know.