A short story. After the last prophecy of the Oracle of Delphi, there was no news of temples being built to gods of the ancient world. Thus, they were forced to live in the mortal world, a half-life. Without the glory of yesteryear, Apollo lives his days feeling in his core the aging of cells, albeit slowly. In the modern world, few prayed to the gods. Until he meets Marisol, a young woman who, it seems, could be a new Pythia and give voice to the oracle again, allowing him to be, once again, immortal. Although he sees it only as a path to his goals, nothing surprises a god more than the arrows of Eros.
Elliot's partner was his whole world, but after Allan's death, his ghost haunts Elliot's dreams. Everyone tells Elliot to move on, but he isn't sure he can.
*****
It's been a year since the love of Elliot's life, Allan, passed away. Everyone thinks he should have recovered after that much time, but Allan still haunts Elliot every night. He struggles to maintain relationships with his family, and despite a coworkers interest he can't summon up the courage to date. Elliot is living for the past, because to live for the present means he'll have to live with a hole in his heart. But the question Elliot has to face chases him through his monotonous days: is mourning Allan with everything he has truly living?
[[word count: 40,000-50,000 words]]