Thorns

Part I

Things were not the same between you and Hades.

You've been trying to avoid it, but this thought kept coming back to you every night you laid down to sleep, and every morning when you opened your eyes and looked around the room – each of those times all alone, for your husband, who usually spent more time at work than yourself, has been coming later to your side and leaving the bed earlier. Not that he would be deeply affected by this strange sleeping schedule, of course: he was a god, and despite being older than you, his stamina was enviable even for the youngest deities. But you loved him, so you wanted him to keep good habits anyway.

And, more than that, you wanted him with you like your first years together.

If only it was just a misunderstanding... But the fact that you've been sensing these changes in your daily activities with him wouldn't let you believe it. Hades has been reducing the number of tasks he delegated to you under the excuse that you shouldn't overwork yourself – even though he has been doing this very thing. He also has been sharing little information about his traits with other domains and jurisdictions to the point that you had to inquire him about things that, in other times, he would discuss with you with no problems; you remembered this day when you felt some distress from his part because of your questions and ended up leaving the throne room earlier to avoid an argument, a situation that you never expected to face: conflicts have always been minimal in your marriage, but now there was a permanent tension whenever you speak to each other, and you were never sure how each conversation would end up.

As the days passed, you spent more and more of your free time alone, whether at your particular garden, taking care of your flowers and getting rid of some thorns that have been increasing in size these last days, or at the balcony of your bedroom, observing the reddish skies of the Underworld with a book forgotten on your lap. In other days, you would be surprised by the sudden arrival of your husband at these places, in which he would come to talk, to date or to take you back to dinner or to your private room, but lately you had no sign of him at them.

With the prolonged loneliness came the inevitable questions: did you make a mistake, maybe more than one? If so, why couldn't you guess where you go wrong? And why didn't he say anything about it? Why was he acting as if nothing happened? Was it possible that he wasn't seeing what was going on?

Does he still even see me as his wife?

***

You still remembered when things became unbearable.

It was a period of festivities in Heaven, which would last for three days and three nights. It was the last night and you were a bit tired, less because of the party itself than because the preparations for the return journey to Hellheim. Hades told you to enjoy the last hours of the night while he would reunite with some deities from a foreign pantheon to discuss some governmental matters.

– Are you sure you don't need my assistance during the meeting, my dear? – you asked, even knowing what you were going to hear in response.

– Yes, I am. And I don't want to steal your last moments here – he kissed your temple – Now, go. Have some fun.

You weren't willing to argue – not in front of strangers – so you just nodded and went to the nearest balcony to get some fresh air.

You were successful in controlling your emotions while you crossed the ballroom to reach it, but once you passed under the arcade and saw yourself alone, surrounded by the night, all the party's noises left behind, you realized how tight was your throat and your chest, and your tears didn't come without a loud sob.

A heavy foot stepped to the spot by your side, making you startle and raise your head, wiping your tears with clumsy hands.

Your eyes widened when you recognized the intruder.