Waking up after a night of dreamless rest was wonderful, probably the best I've felt in a while. I thought back to yesterday and felt the heat rush to my pale olive face. Aesop was such a gentleman, he cared so much and seemed well off by his manners but manners don't always mean money and I shouldn't even be thinking of this. I don't want to be married, no I want to be free and independent and happy and loved and... it seems the only way to be happy and loved is to be married at this point. I mean, I have nowhere else to turn, and no one to turn to. Huh, it's funny how someone's thoughts can be so happy and carefree yet in a small instance everything can change and you're brought to the reality of how lonely you really are.

No, I thought quickly, I'm not alone anymore, I have Aesop now, so no I'm not alone anymore. But something in me responded back softly with a simple word that sent a shock through my body, Atreo... How could I forget him, even now, he helped me first but, the other night... I sighed softly and shoved everything out of my mind as I got up. Getting up properly and fully dressed I walked out of my room slowly. I looked around the house for a bit before stumbling upon something in my father's room. I don't know what forces had pushed me to his room but I felt like I was being called there, almost like a siren softly singing me to my impending death. I sifted through my father's things, everything he owned or held close was here. His clothing was still put up decently and his bed was still made up. It was like he was still there like it was him who pulled me in here, who showed me a small box under his bed. I could tell it was him, there was no doubt. I felt his calming and wise presence filled the air. I paused from this enchantment and look at the box. It was small and wooden, worn around the edges, the wood itself was a dark chestnut oak that was dull and dusted over.

My long thin fingers skimmed the top of it as I stared in some captivating trance-like state. The whole box was mesmerising to me and I found it hard to look away. I tried tearing my gaze from the small box but something pulled me back to it so I started slowly to open it. The box gave a slight creaking scream as I did so. Finally getting it opened completely I looked inside, and what I saw completely puzzled me. It was a drawing of a woman, she was beautiful and smiling. Her soft green eyes stared lovingly into mine. Her pale skin shone brightly and her soft golden brown curls fell gently onto her back and the small half that fell over her shoulder covered her bosom. I sat for a moment staring at the small painting before a distant memory clicked into my head almost like watching a play in the theatre. The actors were huge faced who stared down at me and yet something about them made me feel completely safe and comfortable. The man looked down at me with a smile and a twinkling in his kind old eyes, the woman had a sweet and tired smile and her emerald eyes shone with pride and love. Snapping out of this memory trance I looked down to see my hands shaking. I knew that woman in the painting, anyone would recognise her, she was a caring mother and any loving child would know their mother, even a child who hadn't had the chance to really meet her. She was my mother, I could tell from her eyes, their emerald gleam held something of alikeness to mine, it was no wonder why my father would sometimes stare at me with a smile, I had her eyes, something he had said was his favourite part of her, they were his favourite colour, green.

I felt a tear running down my face as I looked into her eyes, soon I was all-out sobbing. I just couldn't stop crying, I felt weak and slowly slid into a lying position on the floor the wood floor creaking as I did so. Finally, I looked away from the small painting and looked at the rest of the items in the tiny chest. There was a beautiful chained necklace with the most dazzling crystal blue gem, looking back at the painting I noticed my mother had in the exact necklace in her painting. This box must have some of her stuff, father probably wanted to keep it close to him, of course, he would, he loved her so much. I took the necklace up into my hand as I sat up and slipped the necklace around my neck letting the glittering jewel rest gently against my chest. I spent the rest of my time digging through the chest and admiring each and every item I found within the small box. It was truly a treasure chest filled with the most precious memories of my mother. It's like now I have a piece of her with me at all times.

I finally close the little treasure box and carry it to my room gingerly placing It under my bed. I turned to get up to face my door before taking a deep breath and placing my hand over the necklace before walking out of my bedroom and out the doorway to the streets. I then turned towards the markets before shaking my head softly and turning towards the meadow instead. Even after everything I still felt the need to go there, with this glimmer of hope that he would be there, just maybe. Something in me told me he was there, and that's when I took off heading down the streetway till I reached the end of the city and down the beaten path of the meadow. As the sun shone brightly in the sky I could make out the small wavering image of the pomegranate tree. Its bright fruit hung from the long branches weighing them down just enough for a tall person to reach. The bench was situated under the shaded part of the tree and a figure sat underneath it. I could make out who or what it was but my heart told me it was him, who else would be here if only the two of us came here? My slow walking pace sped up to a slight jog as I headed down the path through the tall grass and narcissus' towards the hunched figure. My heart sped up with it step I took and by the time I reached him, it was pounding so hard I felt it would burst out of my chest and I was sure he could hear it. I looked down at his hunched over figure his whole being was clothed in such a dark black that he would have nearly blended with the shadows if he hadn't been so dark. I placed my hand gingerly against his back as to comfort him. He shuddered for a short moment when my hand had touched him but slowly he had leaned into my touch before he looked up at me, tears were welling in his eyes as he saw me and all I felt I could do was smile, so I did. I gave him a sweet and loving smile and he looked into my eyes with a look that just uttered how broken he truly was before he too gave a broken smile to match a broken man.

I forgot everything the moment I looked at her. Her eyes, those beautiful emerald green eyes were full of so much emotion I could barely make out the smile on her soft lips in my distracted thoughts. Her sweet smile was all it took, I stared at her as the tears slowly stop falling down my face. I leaned more into her touch as I smiled roughly, the tears still stained into my skin. I heard a soft sigh escaped her lips as she gently stroked my back in a calming manner.

"What a-are you do-doing here?"

I spoke quickly and quietly but my voice came out more as rocky wheezing than I expected it to be and I winced as my voice cracked. I sounded so weak and pathetic, was this what it was like to be human? To be so broken and emotional? I looked down trying not to face her, how could I, I only seemed to make everything worse and I only want her to be happy. How could she be happy with me? How could- "Atreo, I-" she stopped me but paused to sigh and looked down at the grass. " How could I just leave you, I care about you." She looked at me, a small smile gracing her lips as her eyes welled with unfallen tears.

I took a moment to collect myself and with a shaky breath, I spoke again, barely being able to hear myself.

"It's not- i-it's not me," I mumbled out hoarsely. To my own ears, my voice sounded chalky and weak. I looked into her eyes to find their emerald shine gleaming with confusion.

"What?" She spoke softly, barely over a whisper yet I caught it and with a sadness looming over me, I let the gates loose and poured out everything I held back.

"I'm not him." I paused in my words to let her grasp onto what was happening only continuing after she let out a shaky breath of her own as she looked at me wide-eyed and croaked out, "Not who?"

I shook my head and looked off to the tall grass and flowers before uttering put my confession.

"Atreo." she seemed even more confused and finally found her voice again and frowned.

"How- what- no..." she stumbled out, " What do you mean not Atreo?" I sighed and closed my eyes tightly before speaking up a little louder.

"I'm not Atreo." She was silent for a moment before quietly whispering out "Then who are you?" The sadness in her voice was clear and it pained me to continue, but I managed to mumble out my confession.

"Hades."

It was one word, just a name but it sent shivers down her spine, I could tell. She stood up straight and backed away slowly staring at me with wide fear-stricken eyes. I could feel my heart being torn out of my chest as she stumbled backwards panting as tears fell from her distant, dim emerald eyes, it's natural loving glow gone. I went to stand up to help her as she fell on the grass but she scrabbles backwards wincing with fear. I could tell she didn't want me there anymore so I slowly turned away from her and with a strained scratchy voice uttered out my last words before disappearing from the meadow.

"I'm sorry."