InsaneJournal

In the time since leaving Apollo’s home, Erato had barely been outside. She sat in the window and stared out at the clouds, staying still for long stretches of time, just watching the shape, the colour, the texture of the sky. She cracked the window and felt the late Spring breeze bring her fresh scents from the flowers and trees it had passed, and she shivered and held onto the window sill, and just let things be.

She’d been told that Apollo had arranged for her to take an extended leave of absence from her job, but she hadn’t followed up further than that. She didn’t know who was paying her rent or how. Someone brought fresh groceries in, and she constantly grazed, plucking at grapes and nuts and crackers. Someone fed her cats, and the animals would curl against her and purr and she was so thankful they were alive and safe.

When Asterion had to go to work, one of her sisters would sit with her, because the thought of being left alone and unguarded sent her spiraling into a choking panic. She just couldn’t stomach the thought of isolation. The need to know someone was there was desperate and terrifying. Sweet, strong, loyal Asterion was the one who carried her to bed, who made sure she ate, who reminded her to bathe, while poor addled Erato murmured in verse and sat for hours unwilling to close her eyes in case she woke up without them. He didn’t try to make her talk, or force her to do anything she wasn’t ready for. He was just always there as a solid, comforting presence.

She sat in the bath as Asterion rinsed out her hair, watching the bubbles eddy on the surface of the water with their rainbow shimmer.

“The earth has bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them,” she murmured, swishing her fingers through and making them disappear. So fleeting- so easily lost, like beauty, like joy, like happiness. All gone.