Can You Love a Heart of Black

I sat in my quiet field and looked down at the stream that flowed past. The sun was warm on my shoulder and the light breeze lifted my hair. Poppy and Rose had been weaving flowers into my hair but I waved them off. I gazed at the water nymphs that were laughing and playing in the stream yet I felt an all-encompassing loneliness. I knew I should be happy I had a beautiful home and plenty of nymphs to talk too and Mother would be here to visit me soon but it wasn't enough. I stood up and walked over to the flower grove and held out my handing making the flowers grow larger and sweeter. Lazy bumble bees floated around them, my flowers where always the sweetest. Birds sang in the trees as they always did. The soft grass brushed against my bare legs as I wondered about aimlessly. This field was all I had ever known, Mother had taken me to Olympus several times but nothing beyond that. She was afraid of something I was unaware of. She hardly ever let me meet other gods well not many gods is what I mean she let me met all the goddesses. Though she didn't approve of me spending too much time with Aphrodite, she did like it when I spent time with Athena or other virgin goddesses. I knew the reason I was so lonely, I wished Eros would aim one of his golden arrows at my heart and let me find true love. I wanted to be held by a god not just my mother. I threw my arms up towards the sky.

"Oh little god of love where are you? Why haven't you aimed an arrow at me?" I dropped my arms and wrapped them around my waist. Eros had aimed at the nymphs who lived near me and his aim had been true so why not me? What had I done wrong to make him never aim for my heart? There was the sound of soft footsteps approaching me. It was Mother, her long golden hair was pulled up high on her head. Her green and red robes flowed out behind her as she came closer. She wore her normal overly happy smiley as she opened her arms to me. I ran into her arms and hugged her back. I did love her but her love wasn't enough for me anymore. She gently stroked my brownish red hair and said,

"My dear child why would you ever want that horrid little god of love to pierce your heart? You are too young and his arrows would hurt too much for you." She pulled away and held my face in her hands. I looked into her dark brown eyes that reminded me of fresh turned earth. My own emerald green eyes where reflected in them. I knew she loved me but why did she have to treat me like a child I was a full goddess now.

"Mother I am a woman now and I am stronger then you think I am." I pulled away from her and walked back over to the stream and walked in up to my knees. The sky blue tunic I wore fell just above my knees so there was no need to worry about it getting wet. The water was cool and the pebbles on the bottom where smooth against my bare feet from years flowing water. It seemed to help ease my anger and frustration. Mother stayed on the edge of the bank and looked on at me with sad eyes.

"Child you do not need to feel the pangs of love it will only cause you pain. Remain a virgin goddess and be happy. I love you and that's all you need." I wanted to turn and retort but at that moment there was a large clap of thunder fallowed by several bolts of lightning. Father was upset about something. I turned my face to the sky and wondered if he was looking at me seeing how miserable I was in this lonely existence. It had been over a year sense my coming of age ceremony and that was the last time I had seen him. I could still see him sitting on his white marble thrown, golden hair and matching beard, his thunder bolts laying at his side.

"Your father would like to speak with me." Mother said from the bank. I turned and walked back onto the bank. The water ran off my legs as Mother opened her arms and gave me a second bone crushing hug.

"Stay here love, be happy and I will be back soon." She smiled before she turned and vanished. I walked over to a large bolder and sat down hard. She was so irritating she wanted to control ever tiny detail of my life keep me trapped in this meadow and never have a real life. I wished I was strong and skilled enough to vanish as she did. Run away from here and be free, but she kept on eye on how much of my powers I used and how strong I was getting. One of the water nymphs swam over to me and leaned her head on the bolder beside me.

"What's wrong Mistress Persephone?" She asked in her bubbly voice. I hadn't noticed the tear running down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly before I looked down at her.

"I afraid something that no one can fix." I prayed Father could see how miserable I was but I knew even he had little control over me. My heart was torn between what I wanted. Stay here in the meadow and live a happy life or run away and see what I could make of my life. I had to make a choice and running away seemed like the only option I had left. I walked back out into the stream and sat down on a rock in the middle of it to think things over before I made my final choice.