PERSEPHONE

Persephone gave a small nod of acceptance at Zevulun’s apology, swallowing down the emotion that threatened to rise in her throat. She didn’t want to speak of her own feelings of betrayal she had been processing for some time now, but she appreciated his discrete show of support all the same. Even more so, she appreciated that he moved on from it without lingering.

She hoped Zevulun would be able to avoid a similar experience.

She listened with interest to his information about their new neighbour. Persephone noted his name, planning to pay him a visit herself sometime soon. It was comforting, however, to know that Zevulun had met him and had a good impression of the stranger at lease. She gave a nod of thanks.

“That is good to hear,” she replied. “Thank you.”

Just as she thought he was about to turn away then, he paused. Persephone tilted her head, watching him. He looked almost nervous. When he spoke, she could not pretend that she wasn’t surprised. Although she had known, logically, for some time now that her daughter was a grown woman, it still felt strange to have others acknowledge her as such. And the implication of potential romantic feelings could not be missed – it was not something that Sabran ever talked to her about. Persephone had presumed that was because she did not have much interest in the topic, but it seemed that Zevulun had gotten a different impression.

As conflicted as the idea made her feel, she could not deny the truth of his words: she was an adult, and she could do as she pleased. Of course, she could forbid her daughter from getting involved with a man, and impress her influence over Zevulun to make him stay away, but she knew that was unlikely to work out very well. As she had in so many things by this time in her life, she had past experience that told her such actions tended only to further ignite passions in a potentially unhealthy way.

She would resist the temptation to protect her daughter from the potential risks and pain of life’s experiences, even if it did feel strange. At least, since Zevulun had shown the honesty and bravery to ask her about the matter, she could hope he had reasonably good intentions.

As good as any man with a crush, at least. Her lips curled into a faint smile, equal parts amused and uncertain.

“I will not oppose it,” she replied simply, gauging his reaction with a fixed, curious look. “But be careful with her, Zevulun. She is young, and she has not been to many ‘different islands’ before.”

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh