I walked through the halls, heading towards the outside and making my way through the crowd. I wanted to catch my breath, but I knew it wouldn't be possible amidst all these people: everyone was walking, strolling, or running. Horses pulled carriages with wealthy individuals inside. I tried to avoid the crowd by taking a detour down a side alley. At the same time, I realized I had to stay close because my next performance was about to begin. I took a deep breath and turned around to walk back. Oh God... the narrow alley where I was squeezed in was blocked by a man who seemed to find it convenient to set up his stall right in the way of the only exit. It seemed like the man wasn't in the best mood either... I didn't dare to pass him, but I had no choice; I really couldn't afford to be late for my own final performance.I cleared my throat.The man didn't react.I cleared my throat again, this time louder. The man slowly looked up at me with a wild gaze and gave me a disdainful look."What," he growled."May I pass?" I asked politely. He narrowed his eyes and stared at me intently."Why?" he questioned."Because otherwise, I'll be late," I suggested."Well," he said, "actually, no."I was incredibly annoyed with how painfully slow he spoke, and I was starting to lose patience, so I decided to do something. I decided to just push him aside because otherwise, I would be waiting there for a few more hours.The man shouted after me as I briskly walked past him but didn't follow.My mouth was parched as I entered the hall. I needed to drink something, wine, or else I wouldn't be able to sing. So I walked towards one of the tables, grabbed a glass, and filled it to the brim with alcohol. The glass was empty within two gulps.Okay, now I'll go for it, I thought to myself, now is my moment, my last moment.I stepped onto the small stage with enthusiasm, tossing back my dark hair, straightening my dress, and sang like I had never sung before.I was handed another glass of red wine, which I gladly accepted, determined to drink my sorrows away. It felt like a crime not to sing anymore, why did that stupid child have to come, I had really not waited for it. I knew it would ruin my career. It would devastate it. I mean, I used to always play house and I always wanted to be the best mother ever, but now I know what it feels like when I have to prioritize motherhood and put my child as the highest priority. I also now know that my then pathetic, little child's brain knew nothing about the outside world, reality, or the harsh truth. Now I only wanted to sing. For a large audience. Everyone who listened to me. All eyes on me. People finally seeing me, truly listening to me.In short, my life was singing, it was one of the few things I loved, and that loved me back. If I couldn't sing anymore, my life might as well end here and now, it was as simple as that. My voice was the only thing that made people turn their heads towards me... They couldn't force me to stop, even if it meant secretly holding my own concerts.I grabbed a jug of wine and brought it to my mouth. People watched in awe as I consumed almost a liter of wine. But I didn't care. I fervently wished it wouldn't be the end, that the gods would think not only of the wealthiest but also of the less fortunate (not that I was necessarily poor) and that I could just keep on singing. After another hour of drinking liters of wine, I had enough and stumbled outside, much like earlier today, except this time the square was empty except for a few stray pigeons. I walked to the center of the square, where a large fountain stood. I sat on the rim, tracing circles in the water with my fingers.I sighed. So, this was it? So, these were all the highlights of my life and would it now only go downhill from here? Is this the e-For a brief moment, I was blinded, and then I saw everything very clearly and didn't feel drunk anymore.In front of me stood a beautiful woman. She wore a long, graceful cloak, and a golden tiara adorned her perfectly glossy, black hair. It was studded with emeralds and rubies, regally shimmering in the sunlight. Her cloak had a collar made of peacock feathers and was otherwise made of red velvet; she was so beautiful that she must be a goddess.She looked down on me haughtily, clearly feeling superior."Hello, Eudoxia," she said slowly, and her voice hissed a little as she pronounced my name. "I felt that you needed my help.""Y-yes..." I stammered."I am Hera, the goddess of childbirth, and now that you have a child, it brings me to motherhood, which you clearly find difficult. And I am the goddess of marriage, which also doesn't seem to be going smoothly for you."She was right about everything, most of all that my marriage was a disaster. Marcus was angry because I wanted to resist for my own rights, and the worst part was that I felt like I was losing my grip on him, that he was thinking and doing things completely different from me. He was turning more and more against me."Wow..." was all I could say."I can help you," Hera said, "but you have to trust me.""O-okay...," I regained my composure. "Yes, I trust you." "You need to end your marriage.""What?!""You deserve better. Marcus is using you to climb up the ladder, to make money. He only "loved" you for the money; to him, you're worthless,"I stood there, speechless, not knowing what to say, but I didn't have to because Hera continued, "Do you remember that contract you signed?"I nodded. I knew it all too well, it was a death contract. If I were to die, all the money and possessions would go to Marcus."Sooner or later, he will kill you, stab you or shoot a bullet through your head. Then he will get all the wealth he has been working towards. So my first tip is: break the contract or you will have to keep running for your entire life.""The contract is set and cannot be broken anymore," I squeaked.A grim expression appeared in Hera's eyes."Then it's time for your husband to die, before it's you."She disappeared. Just into nothingness. Could it be true? Could Marcus be so cruel?Before me, Hera appeared again, or at least that's what I thought. Standing before me was Athena, beautiful as always. Her brown hair fell on her white dress. She wore a golden, feminine helmet and had the same grim expression as Hera when she left."Your troops are ready, ma'am."Error. I ceased to function. Was I supposed to lead a war? The only thing I could do was sing..."Okay," I said, bewildered."The opponent is strong, with Ares leading."Then everything happened very quickly.Athena grabbed my arm and we teleported to... I don't know where. I was handed a sword and a shield, and a helmet was forced onto my head.The next moment, both parties charged at each other, turning the dry sand flat into a bloodbath; I didn't want to know how many casualties there were. I slowly shuffled forward. A furious man came running towards me, screaming. I quickly hid behind my shield and thrust my sword forward.The screaming ceased. Slowly, I pushed my oversized helmet up with my upper arm and looked over the edge of my shield. The man had been foolish enough to impale himself on my sword... He muttered some incomprehensible words, his eyes turned heavenward, and he collapsed.Excitedly, I pulled the sharpened metal out of his bleeding torso and looked at him for a moment. I turned around and suddenly came face to face with Marcus. We stared at each other, his eyes wild and his hands trembling. The minute we locked eyes felt like at least an hour.Then, out of nowhere, without any warning, he thrust his sword forward. It pierced through my body. I didn't dare look behind me, but I knew the blade was protruding from the other side. Blood dripped from the sword, silently falling into the sand.Everything seemed to stand still. I looked at him, stunned.The look in his eyes was no longer wild; they were filled with thunder, looking at me disdainfully.Hera was right. He's an ugly jerk. An untrustworthy, gruesome murderer without a conscience.Slowly, he turned the sword ninety degrees, snapping me out of my trance. A sharp pain shot through my entire body, allowing me to gasp for air shakily.With a jerk, he pulled the sword out of my chest and smiled. That smile that I had known for so long, that had always felt comforting, now had a different meaning: causing someone's death.So I laughed, faltering with the same smile and suddenly stabbed my bloodied sword into his stomach, causing as much pain as possible and relishing in the painful expression on his face. Gasping for breath, I pulled the sword out of him, and everything began to spin. My muscles slackened, and my head felt heavy.I had just enough strength to give Marcus a punch in his ugly face and exhaled my final breath. Everything turned black. The last thing I felt was pain and great triumph.

:)