The House of the Rising Sun

Chapter Thirty-Two: Adding Sweetness

Chapter Thirty-Two: Adding Sweetness

Alexander

There was a slight stirring in front of me. I don’t know when, but I had fallen asleep next to Selene and I had my arms around her waist. Now, her slight movement woke me.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered in her ear. I let go of her waist and she glanced at me. However she turned away and walked slowly to the only window in her room. She leaned against it, resting her elbow on the sill and her chin in her hand. All she did was stare.

I was confused, so I got up and followed her. When I got behind her I placed my hand gently on her shoulder. “Are you okay?” I asked. She turned to me, but quickly she looked back out the window. She had silvery tears rolling softly down her cheeks.

“Amenemhet’s wife, Yocheved, told me that sometimes, when a person dies, a new star appears in the sky.”

I sighed, and I felt so bad for her. “Selene, I’m not an astronomer, but people have studied the sky for many, many years. I don’t think new stars just…appear, unless the person was close to the gods or they did…” I didn’t finish my sentence, because Selene was pointing out the window.

“That star,” she whispered hoarsely. “That star wasn’t there yesterday.”

I looked to the star she was pointing at. My heart suddenly broke for her. I had seen that star before, many times. Selene was looking for a glimmer of hope.

“You’re right,” I lied. If she wanted hope and to be happy, then I was going to do all I could do to fill her heart with both. I didn’t care that it was lying and I’d be damned in the afterlife and whatnot. I wanted Selene to be happy. “I haven’t seen that star before.” She leaned into me and hugged my waist.

“That’s Sosigenes, Alexander. It’s him. I know it is,” said Selene, with more confidence.

“Sosigenes must have honored the gods greatly,” I stated.

“He did. Every day from the day I was born to the day he…”

“I wish I would have gotten to meet him,” I said before she could finish her sentence.

She sighed. “Oh Alexander, he would have loved you. He was a great man.”

“You don’t need to tell me that,” I spoke softly. I turned her around gently so she faced me. “The proof of that is in front of me right now. He raised you, Selene, all by himself, and you turned out to be such a beautiful, strong, intelligent woman.”

“Thank you,” she breathed, and she hugged my waist, resting her head on my chest.

“I love you, and I will always.” I kissed her head. “But right now it is the middle of the night. We should go back to sleep.”

Selene looked back at the window one last time and then we walked back to her bed. She lied down on her side and looked back up at me. I gave Selene a gentle smile and lied down beside her, on my back. She held my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine, and she snuggled closer to me.

“Good night, Alexander,” she whispered before closing her eyes again.

I woke up the next morning first. Selene was still sleeping peacefully and we were both facing each other. Our hands were tangled together and her nose was barely touching mine. The light of Helios was streaming in softly, and Nofre-Ari was sleeping on the patch it made on the ground. I supposed she sensed the fact I was looking at her because she sat up and looked at me with her bright, electric eyes.

“Mew,” she said, and she stood up, her tail swaying smoothly in the air. I looked back at sleeping Selene, kissed her forehead, and gently untangled my hands from hers. She stirred slightly, drawing her hands to her chest, but she didn’t wake up. I sat up slowly and swung my legs over the bed, but I stretched my back before I stood up. Nofre-Ari looked at me with her wise, wide eyes. She rubbed herself against my leg, and I knew very well what that meant. I scratched her head.