Creative Writing

Apollo & Hyacinthus

The God Apollo has never felt such anticipation.

Hyacinthus, a mortal being, was a man that Apollo has fallen deeply for. Though, Apollo wasn't the only God who had his eyes on this man. Unfortunately, Apollo was competing with the God of the Wind, Zephyrus. Not to mention that Hyacinthus had another mortal man who was pining for him too.

Apollo didn't keep his hopes up though. He doubted that he would be Hyacinthus' first choice as a lover. Good reason too, Apollo has never been lucky with love. Especially with his first love, Daphne, who had lost her life after trying to escape Apollo and the love he wanted to provide for her.

You could imagine Apollo's surprise when he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

'Hear, O Lord Apollo, God of the Sun, Music, Poetry, Healing, Prophecies and more. I, Hyacinthus, ask you to come down to the Mortal World and meet me at your Temple. I will offer you a bundle of Frankincense, please, I must speak with you.'

This was no simple prayer, Hyacinthus was asking Apollo to meet him, this was more of a favour rather than a prayer.

Apollo couldn't not meet Hyacinthus, especially when he was pleading to him to see each other. Apollo shifts his appearance to appear less frightening, more mortal like but still appearing as a mightier being than most, the way that Hyacinthus usually would see him. Once Apollo is happy with his appearance, he appears at one of his Temples, the Temple where Hyacinthus was waiting for him.

Apollo sees Hyacinthus at the entrance of his Temple and they both catch each other's eyes. Apollo stares at Hyacinthus as Hyacinthus takes a step forward closer towards the God before him.

"I choose you."

Apollo blinks. His mind did not register what Hyacinthus had said.

"Come again?"

Apollo feels that strange fluttery feeling he typically felt around Hyacinthus as Hyacinthus seems to find this humorous, a sweet smile forming on his face.

"You are the kindest God I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, and I feel euphoric whenever I am around you, Lord Apollo. I choose you."

Apollo takes a moment, and that moment is filled with silence as Apollo registers the words Hyacinthus had just spoken.

Apollo is a God. He shouldn't be feeling so happy about a mere mortal, a simple human being, choosing him over another God and over another mortal, a man who was just the same as Hyacinthus. Yet, Apollo couldn't help but feel that way. He was literally beaming. Hyacinthus could see that Apollo was glowing with happiness.

Apollo strides over towards Hyacinthus and he throws his arms around the mortal male, lifting him up as Hyacinthus laughs out and holds onto Apollo's shoulder to ensure he wouldn't slip out from the God's arms. Apollo smiles widely as he spins them around, seeing how it made Hyacinthus giggle just made Apollo's chest feel heavy with joy. Apollo sets Hyacinthus back onto the ground before leaning in and pressing their foreheads together.

When has Apollo ever not faced rejection? When had he ever experienced the feeling of a person reciprocating his feelings for them?

"You won't regret it, Hyacinth." Apollo whispers, meeting Hyacinthus' eyes.

Hyacinthus looked up at Apollo and he tilted his head to the side slightly.

"I doubt I will." Hyacinthus whispers back.

They stayed silent for a moment before Hyacinthus' gaze rested on Apollo's lips. Hyacinthus reaches up hesitantly and Apollo closes the gap between them. Their lips only touched together for a moment but that moment was enough to fill both of them up with warmth and feelings that they have never felt before.

Surely Apollo's luck in love has taken a turn?

Time had passed and it was clear that Apollo's luck in love had not taken a turn. His time with Hyacinthus felt short, but everything felt short to a being who was immortal and would live for thousands of years. Those memories that Apollo had with Hyacinthus would be memories he would forever cherish, yet Apollo couldn't help but think, 'what would have happened if he had more time?'

Apollo was staring at the dead body of his lover on the grass in this field. Apollo was teaching Hyacinthus how to throw a discus, like how he had taught Hyacinthus how to play the lyre among many other things, except that learning how to play a lyre didn't lead to Hyacinthus' death.

Apollo was sat by Hyacinthus, staring at how the blood was rushing out of his head, and at the weapon that murdered him. The weapon that Apollo had used to accidentally kill his lover. Apollo knew it wasn't him who had done this, he would have never done anything to hurt Hyacinthus. The discus had the splatter of Hyacinthus' blood on it. Apollo used a hand to gently caress Hyacinthus' cold cheek and he blinked, letting his tears roll down his own cheeks as he grieved the loss of his love.

Apollo raised his head, looking up to the sky. That jealous, petty Wind God, Zephyrus was the culprit here. He redirected the wind when Apollo threw that discus. Who else would have a reason to hurt Hyacinthus? To kill Apollo's lover? To murder one of the very few people who will ever reciprocate Apollo's feelings and choose him over anyone else? It had to be Zephyrus.

Apollo breathed out as he looked back down at Hyacinthus' face. Apollo caressed his cheek again, frowning at the sight of his lover laying dead before him. Apollo leaned in, pressing his forehead against Hyacinthus'.

"I'm sorry, you should have never chosen me." Apollo whispered, shutting his eyes as he kept his forehead pressed against his lover's. "Perhaps you could've been happy with someone like you, someone who isn't a being who would outlive you. You could have died old together."

"But now, because you chose to be with me, you have died young, my dearest, Hyacinth."

Apollo pulled away slightly, pressing his lips upon Hyacinthus' forehead, kissing it gently before pulling away and letting Hyacinthus lay on the ground. Apollo waved his hand over his lover's dead body, shutting his eyes and continuing to let the tears fall from his eyes as he put his mind into making sure Hyacinthus would be remembered for the ages.

Apollo's eyes opened and he let out a soft gasp as the entire field began to fill and bloom with flowers. Wonderful purple flowers overtook the grounds. Apollo felt his bottom lip tremble and he took a deep breath, looking up into the sky and seeing how the sun was beginning to set and the moon was beginning to appear in the now darkening sky. Apollo stayed in the field as he watched his sister, Artemis, bring the moon up to let the mortals know that the day was over and it was night once again.

Apollo took another deep breath before he raised onto his own two feet and looked over to the sun which was setting slowly. Apollo should help out Helios, the poor Titan must've been doing Apollo's job just because Apollo was busy grieving.

Apollo looked down at the ground and the flowers. He reached down and carefully plucked one of the flowers out of the ground before placing the flower up in his hair, behind his ear. Apollo's skin tingled as he was reminded of how Hyacinthus would always place flowers in Apollo's hair and caress his face, which filled Apollo with warmth and love.

"I will never forget you, Hyacinth."

Although Hyacinthus had died, he was the only one to have ever reciprocated Apollo's feelings, which Apollo would always be greatly thankful for.

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Word count: 1295