eros and psyche - jasper hale

prologue

I never saw the similarities until afterwards, despite my near obsession with greek mythology.

Eros and Psyche, perhaps the most famous pair of lovers of all time. A tale of love, betrayal, fate and death, in which the main protagonists are a man possessed by passion despite the risks and a woman who attempts to overcome any obstacles in order to achieve the happiness of love.

Psyche, whose beauty was said to have rivaled Aphrodite's, was decreed to be wed to a monstrous stranger by the Oracle of Delphi. When she arrived at the castle however, although she could not see him, she could hear her husband's voice. When she felt he was close to her and heard his voice whispering sweetly in her ear, her fears disappeared. Without even seeing him, she was certain that he was not a monster but the loving husband she had always been wishing for. However, her sisters were not as convinced as she, and they compelled Psyche to wait until nighttime, when her husband was sure to be asleep, and see him in the light.

From that day on, Psyche could think of nothing else but what her sisters said. Why doesn't he come to me in the day? Why doesn't he allow me to see him? What is his secret? Why hasn't he ever told me about his life?  He must be hiding something horrible and that is why he does not want to be seen in the daylight. I must find out. Tonight, when he falls to deep sleep, I will light a candle to see him.

Indeed, that night, when her husband fell asleep peacefully, she took courage and lit the candle. Walking on her toes she approached the bed and she felt deeply relieved. The light did not show a monster but the most beautiful of men. Ashamed by her little confidence, Psyche fell down on her knees and thanked gods for this happiness. However, a drop of oil fell from the candle on the back of that handsome, young man. He woke up in pain and saw the light. He looked her at the eyes and, facing Psyche's distrust, he left their bedroom without uttering a single word.

Psyche, attempting to earn back Eros' trust, completed three dangerous tasks. One of which was to collect a drop of Persephone's beauty to deliver to Aphrodite. Instead of being filled with beauty, it was a drop of the Sleep of Innermost Darkness, which rendered Psyche to a corpse-like sleep. Eros, finding his lover dead, revived her with a kiss.

Against all odds and decrees from the gods, Eros and Psyche overcame any obstacles and lived an immortal life together, celebrating their love.

Although not a carbon-copy, there were startling similarities between the age-old tale and the whirlwind of events this autumn. It seems as though a love like mine was fated, and I wouldn't change a thing, no matter what happened.

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IMPORTANT A/N: This story will feature a main character with an eating disorder (anorexia to be specific). It will not glorify the mental disorder in any way or be the main character trait, but if any reader will find this triggering, please do not continue reading this story. Thank you.