Calypso

Jake

Time. Why does it have to be so difficult? I think, and calculate, and count. Just when I think I've caught it, it slips away. I can't even count and calculate by nights and days -- as the island travels, time zones constantly change, leaving everything upside-down.
Jake's been here for who knows how long -- a lot longer than anyone else, that's for sure. His leg is healed.
Now he has to leave.
He emerges from my cave. I stir the fire, trying to do something useful.
I know that I'm going to fall in love with him. And then he'll leave. Then another boy will come. Repeat.
I angrily stab the fire, sending ash sputtering onto my clean white dress.
"What's wrong?"
I look up to see Jake hovering nearby. Not literally hovering, just... sort of standing there.
I look away. "Can you just go?"
"What? Why?" His voice sounds hurt. I regret saying that, and yet I don't.
I stand. "Please," I whisper.
He walks closer and tentatively reaches for my hand. "What's wrong, Calypso?"
His eyes are the same color as the leaves in my gardens. Right now I can see the hurt flashing through them.
"Please," I manage to sob. I hate myself for this. No, I hate the gods for this. Making me hurt like this so often, so much... It's too much to bear.
He hesitates. "Your curse? I remember something about a curse..." He stares off in the distance, like he's thinking. I stay silent, waiting for him to come to his own conclusions.
"You're stuck on this island, right?" I nod slowly. "But that can't be all that's bothering you. Can it?"
I don't speak, which I suppose is as much an answer as 'yes' or 'no.'
He gazes deep into my eyes. "What's wrong? I want to help."
I close my eyes. So many others have said that. "You can't. Please, go."
"Can you at least tell me?"
I don't know why I haven't. Maybe, once I've satisfied his curiosity, he'll leave. Can he, even? Or do I have to fall hopelessly in love with him first?
I whimper. I am so tired of nothing but heartbreak. No one deserves this.
I sigh and collapse onto the sand, dragging him down with me. "Ouch..."
"You should've let go of my hand."
"I don't want to let go."
I take another deep breath and suppress a sob. Another. Another person who seems to care, but doesn't care quite enough.
"My father was Atlas, a Titan. In the first war, I supported him. This is my punishment. Eternal imprisonment on this island. Every once in a while, the Fates let a hero wash up on the shores. But it's not random. The heroes that come... They're always someone that I can't... That I can't help but fall in love with." I use my free hand to wipe a tear from my cheek. "I've been here for so long..." I choke up on a sob. I turn to face him. "Please, go. Before I fall in love with you and you break my heart all over again."
He takes a deep breath, and the scent of mint makes me suddenly aware of how close we are.
"What if I don't want to leave?"
I gasp audibly. "But no one... They ALL leave. They have to. They're heroes. They have other... people that they need to get to. That they can't leave."
He smiles a bit. "I have no one to go back to."
More tears stream down my face, and I let out a disbelieving and awkward laugh.
There are mere inches between us now. Our noses are touching. I haven't been this close to anyone in a long time.
His eyes bulge, and he exhales sharply. He slumps to the ground.
"J-Jake?" I shake him. "What just happened?"
I look up, desperately hoping to see someone that can help. No one.
I shake him again. "Jake, what is going on?"
I pull my hand back to find it streaked with blood.
"No," I whisper.
A small, almost imperceptible lightning arrow is sticking out of his back.
Zeus.