it has been a few months and Nico
sends me an iris message while the cabin
is empty

he asks my name
he asks not for help but
for my name

i give it to him.
he says it's his birthday

i say happy birthday

he leaves after he tells me
to not tell anyone else but

he is eleven now

i am still twelve under this tanned skin
still twelve under this armor
still twelve under all this burden

my father drives a red car and laughs with
his sister like making me was a joke

hades has a wife, has a mother-in-law
hades has Nico
hades loves Nico

does Nico love
hades?
does Nico love
his step-mother?