“Oh, sweet girl, look how much you’ve grown. Oh, my child, sweetest joy I’ve known. 20 years ago, I held you in my arms, how time has flown…” Penelope absorbed the young woman in front of her. A bittersweet image stood before her. Telemache was a woman, one she would no doubt be proud of, for she could feel the maternal pride swelling within her heart. But she had missed all of her childhood.
She squeezed Telemache’s hands to steel both herself and her daughter. “I used to say I’d make the storm clouds cry for you,” Penelope said. She had. She had made Amphitrite cry for mercy just to get home. “I used to say I’d capture wind and sky for you.” She had done that 10 years ago, though she couldn’t say it ended well. “I held you in my arms, prepared to die for you—“ She felt tears starting to well up in her eyes, too. “…How time has flown.”
Telemache pulled her hand away to wipe a tear that fell down her face. The torn away hand caused panic in Penelope until she felt a gentle thumb on her cheek. Pride had not been so present, so strong, throughout all of her life. Until now.
“I can only wonder what your world has been, things you’ve had to suffer, and the strength you hold within.” She looked around again and the mangled corpses of the suitors. How awful that must’ve been to endure… “All I’ve ever wanted was to reunite with my own. 20 years, we’ve wandered, but today you’re not alone. My daughter, I’m finally home!”
At this, Telemache leaped into her mother’s arms. She cried without shame, and so did Penelope. “Mother, how I’ve longed to see you!” she sobbed.
Penelope’s embrace tightened. She felt tears beginning to soak through her cloak. “Telemache, I’m home!” she proclaimed.
“Home,” she heard Telemache repeat softly. There were oceans in her daughter’s eyes. Oceans of repressed emotions: longing, sorrow, happiness.
You know what's so funny?
Blue and I already have a good chunk of the Ithaca Saga written out, knowing damn well we still have to write out the Circe Saga.
And now I'm crying. Thank you, Dynasty. I was thinking it's been too long (like 8 hours) since someone on this app made me cry.
