summer stories

Promises (hoo)

"I'm coming back for you, Calypso. I swear it on the River Styx." Promises. Promises are words made to instill hope into another person's being. I wanted to believe, I truly did. But the promises that were made to me were always broken. Forgotten. No exceptions.

I was imprisoned to the island of Ogygia by the Olympian gods after the first Titan War. The island itself was paradise, but it was the curse they put on me that made things unbearable. They send a person who can never stay. A hero I cannot help. Just the sort of person I can't help falling in love with. Odysseus, for example. But at the end, they must go, and the endless story of my heartbreak will repeat itself for the rest of my immortal life.

Then a young hero named Leo Valdez crash landed on my island on a metal dragon, interrupting my lunch. He was covered in soot and completely ruined my tranquil home. We didn't get along at first, but in the end he swore that he would return. However, as the days went by, my patience wavered and sadness began to eat me alive; I couldn't wait any longer.

One day, I was tending to my Moonlace, when a glint of gold caught my eye. I turned to the sky, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever created the gold light. And then it appeared. A huge metal dragon skimming the ocean with its talons, a whooping figure on its back, just above the horizon. It was him. He came back.

I dropped my gardening tools and ran to the shoreline. The waves tickled my bare toes as I watched him land next to my table–instead of crushing it like he did last time–and hop off his dragon, Festus, with his signature impish grin painted across his face. He crossed his arms and leaned against Festus' side, his grin only growing when he saw that I was fighting a smile. "Hey," He nodded at me smugly. I ran up to him and threw my arms around his neck, pulling him into one of the biggest hugs I'd ever given. He wrapped his arms around my waist and tears of happiness and disbelief filled my eyes.

"You came back," I breathed. He chuckled and pulled away from the hug.

"I swore it didn't I?" I shook my head.

"But it's supposed to be impossible to find Ogygia more than once," I stated.
"Well I do pride myself in doing the impossible. Like defeating an army of giants and undead monsters for my love trapped on an island," He winked at me, flexing his arms. I laughed.

"You're an idiot, Valdez." I rolled my eyes, my arms still hooked around his neck.

"Yes, but I'm your idiot," He replied, pecking me on the cheek. I blushed tomato red.

About a month later, Leo had repaired Festus from any injuries and malfunctions and we were ready to leave the island. I had no idea whether it would work or not, if I would disintegrate after setting foot off of the island, but I decided I didn't care anymore. I was reunited with Leo Valdez because he did the impossible and returned to my island, so I would go with him wherever he would take me. Nothing would stop me.

"You ready, Calypso?" I had been staring at the water for a while now, a pouch of drachmas in my hands. I turned to face him and smiled, nodding; I had never been so ready for anything in my entire life. He offered his hand and helped me onto the back of Happy the dragon. I buried my face into the back of his shoulder and wrapped my arms around him.

"Let's go explore the world," And we took off.