60. Asteria Followed Me
Asteria Followed Me
Her hands grasped my shoulders
before I could leave the gilded halls,
the oppressive archways of my father’s palace.
I stopped and turned to her,
meeting her eyes with my own
wrathful, fearful ones.
‘How could she do this?’
I asked her furiously.
‘Why would she give her away?’
Asteria sighed and rubbed her forehead.
‘Do you not see why? Truly?
How else could your mother
keep you and all your siblings safe?’
Somewhere within me a voice of reason
understood Asteria’s words.
But my own pain was too raw.
‘What does it matter?’ I said bitterly.
‘My mother is used to throwing
daughters away. She has so many.’
Asteria quietly took my hand.
‘I know you are in pain,’
she whispered kindly,
‘but I promise I will care
for your sister as my very own.’
When I did not answer she added,
‘Consider this. She will grow up
as one of three instead of one
of three thousand.’
At these words, my heart leaped,
a piece of hope lodging
in my bones.
After a moment I said,
‘When she is old enough,
will you bring her to the cave?’
Asteria nodded immediately
‘If no other of her birth family,
she will at least know you, Styx.
The best of you all.’ My eyes filled again
but I held my tears back.
Instead, I squeezed Asteria’s hand.
A gentle gesture that she would know
is my only way of saying
Thank you.