history of man // percy jackson & the olympians

08 | do friends hug?

ANDROMEDA'S MOTHER FINALLY STOOD BEFORE HER IN ALL HER GLORY. she had long, wild brown hair crowned with flowers, keeping her hair out of her face. a white dress billowed in the night wind, and a golden bow and quiver adorned her shoulders. a tame deer stood by her side, proudly standing next to the goddess.

the goddess smiled, a mixture of pride and affection in her gaze. "my dear andromeda. it is time for you to embrace your destiny."

andromeda's heart pounded in her chest. "but i thought my father told me the story of perseus and andromeda."

the goddess chuckled, the sound as soothing as a woodland breeze. "your father, the hopeless romantic that he is, spoke of a great love, but your journey is not a mere retelling of ancient tales." she explained to the girl. "your path is unique, woven with the threads of courage, sacrifice, and a destiny that intertwines with mine."

andromeda looked down at her hands, her mind racing back to the gateway arch. "it's true." she whispered. "it did happen. i fell."

the goddess continued on. "your quest is not to clear perseus's name, but to forge your own." she told her, stepping closer and placing a hand on the girl's cheek. "embrace your strength, my daughter, and let the stars guide you."

the goddess gazed down at andromeda with a motherly pride and then unslung the golden bow and quiver from her shoulders. the bow gleamed in the moonlight, its design an exquisite testament to divine craftsmanship. she handed them to andromeda with a gentle smile.

"these are yours now, my daughter. a gift from the moon," her mother said, her voice resonating with the wisdom of the ages. "the arrows within will always find their way back to you, for they carry the essence of your purpose."

andromeda held the radiant bow and quiver in her hands, feeling the weight of destiny within them. the connection between mother and daughter forged in that moment transcended the mortal realm.

the goddess placed a hand on andromeda's shoulder, her touch imbued with the strength of the wild. "i am with you, and i have always been with you."

andromeda thought back throughout her life — has her mother been with her the whole time?

she thought back to when a boy in the foster homes tried taking advantage of her, and the bird that flew through the window and held him off just long enough for the adults to hear the commotion and stop him.

she thought of the next foster family that seemed to get a thrill out of testing her pain tolerance. how when it got bad, their dog would bark and bark until they tended to him.

she thought of every time she fired her bow and arrow, and the tranquility she felt with every exhale.
she thought of the baby deer that slept next to her father's grave.

her mother had been there for her.

tears welled in andromeda's eyes. "am i dead?"

her mother kneeled before her, so they were at eye level, and cupped her daughter's face in her hands. "the constellation bearing your name will shine brightly among the heroes of the night."

andromeda nodded, a newfound resolve gleaming in her eyes. the golden bow and quiver became an extension of her purpose, and as her mother faded into the moonlit shadows, andromeda sat in the darkness of central park, ready to embrace her unique destiny. the golden arrows glimmered with a promise — a promise that no matter where her journey led, they would always find their way back to her side.