The Legend Of Calypso

I put one foot down upon the thick, island tree branch, pushing myself up towards the canopy. As I reached the top, I sat down upon my makeshift bench, which I had fastened out of various boards from shipwrecks and crates that had washed upon the shores of Ogygia, the island I was on.

I immediately felt my hind end and thighs soaked by water. Whether this was from the humid air, or last nights storms, I couldn't be sure.

I rested my back against the tree's trunk, taking in a deep breath. The air smelled of the frothy brine of the sea. When I was first marooned on Ogygia, the smell had made me retch. But I had grown to love the fragrant odor.

I almost jumped out of my seat and fallen to my death when I heard a voice call up to me from below.

"Hey!"

I looked down and saw a young man, in his late teenage years, staring up at me. His skin was a deep olive, so much like an average Greeks'. His face was slightly pink from the sun, and his arms were rather skinny. Not much muscle, barely enough to show.

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the trunk once again, but this time in submission. I wished the trunk would just open and swallow me up. I would rather that than the pain and suffering I was bound for.

I suddenly felt my body heat up with anger. I turned to stare down at the boy, an ugly snarl on my face. "Rot in Hades you vile swine! I hope you suffer in The Fields of Punishment for eternity!" I continued to snap off a small branch and hurl it down at the dumbstruck boy.

He stared at the branch as it hit the ground several feet from him, then focused back on me. He made an idiotic sound, that absolutely disgusted me. On normal terms, it wouldn't have, but I was already blaming the boy for my future despair.

"Er... Okay..." He mumbled, then walked off slowly into the trees. I watched as his black hair faded into the undergrowth, then finally let the weight of what had just happened fall upon me.

Another boy... Another one had found this cursed island... Another had found me... And another would break my heart. I sobbed at my thoughts, clutching and clawing at my face. I felt the skin break under my nails, and the heat of blood slowly sliding down my cheeks. But that didn't stop me, it merely made me claw harder.

Anything would be better than the pain that was bound to come.

Hours later, I climbed down my tree, and headed off in the same direction the dark-headed boy had. After sobbing and wallowing in my despair for a while, I had reached the decision that I would have to face him eventually. And why not sooner than later?

Ahead, the sounds of the ocean were getting louder. I could hear the crashing of the waves on the shore more clearly.

I continued through the forest, pushing plants and fronds out of my way and calling for the boy. I suddenly emerged onto the beach, my feet seeping into the sand. Out further, closer to the ocean was the newcomer, sitting with his knees close to his chest.

I walked up behind him, and plopped, cross legged, onto the hot sand beside him. The sand did little to relieve the coldness in my heart.

I took a deep breath before I started. "Look... About earlier... I'm sorry. I just got a little angry."

He looked over at me. "Oh- OH! What happened?!" His eyes widened in alarm at my scratched face.

I waved my hands in dismissal. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing, really."

"Okay..." He squinted his eyes at me, not one hundred percent convinced, but he continued anyway. "Why did you get so mad? You'd think you'd be a little bit more happy that you weren't alone any longer."

I closed my eyes and sighed. "Well... I guess I should tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"My father... He's a Titan. He's... Atlas." I flinched, expecting a gasp or a word of disapproval. But he said nothing, so I continued. "When the Gods overthrew the Titans, and forced my father to hold up the sky, they also punished me. Well, Zeus punished me.

"He created this island, Ogygia, and placed me on it, and I will never be allowed off. I have no idea how long I've been on this island... For there is no way of telling time. It could be years, or only a matter of minutes. On top of that, I'm immortal, so therefore it's even more impossible.

"But... That's not my only punishment. Every now and then, a traveler gets washed upon my shores..." I motioned at him, and prepared for the hardest part of the story.

"You're stuck on this island with me, for now. There is no way off for you, unless... I fall in love with you. There is no other way. Once I fall in love, the Gods send a raft to the island, and you are forced to leave.

"That, is my immortal punishment."

"Well, that's harsh."

I laughed grimly. "Yeah. It sure is. And on top of all that, I didn't even take part in the war. I'm only punished because of my father and his decisions, not mine."

"That's messed up. You'd think the 'oh so great Gods' would be a little bit smarter than that."

I stared wide eyed at the boy, yet I felt a slight smirk pulling at my mouth. "I'm surprised you'd talk to them in that way." I suddenly realized that I didn't even know his name yet. "So... What's your name?"

"Oh... I guess we forgot our formal introduction. Adonis. Yours?"

I looked into his brown eyes. "Calypso."

"Hmm... Adonis and Calypso. Not half bad."

I gasped and smacked his arm playfully. "Why do you so quickly assume that I'll fall in love with you?"

He shrugged. "I guess I just plan to get off this island."

"They all do." I mumbled. I then pursed my lips, not letting myself show any emotion.

Adonis stood up, handing out his hand. "Come on, I know some plants that'll help those scratches heal faster."

I smiled up at him and took his hand. "Thanks."

Over the coming months, I began to fall for Adonis, as I do with every boy that wrecks on Ogygia. We continued to spend our days in each other's company, not letting the other get lonely. I showed Adonis my hut, and was more than happy to help him build another bed.

We spent our mornings caring for the gardens, our afternoons swimming in the ponds, and our evenings eating dinner by the sea. Life was wonderful for awhile. But that all changed when I finally fell in love with Adonis.

I opened my eyes, and rubbed them to remove the sleep. I looked over to Adonis's bed and was startled to see it empty. We normally waited for the other to wake.

I got up out of bed, and changed into my day clothes, then made my way out of the hut, making sure I grabbed the forked twig I often used to pin up my hair.

The day was nice and warm, quite like the day we had first met. Not a cloud in the sky. I stood there for a moment, outside of the hut, letting my skin soak in the warmth of the sun.

I was jerked out of my relaxation when I heard a small cough. I opened my eyes to see Adonis, standing just outside the undergrowth of the jungle. In his hands was a small bouquet of bright, multicolored flowers.

I gasped and ran toward him, giving him a big hug. "Oh! Thank you Adonis! I'll have to give you something in return... This evening at dinner! I promise!"

But something was wrong... Adonis' brown eyes weren't sparkling like they usually did, and he didn't have a smile on his face. I felt my brows furrow in concern. "What's wrong?"

Adonis lowered his eyes slowly. "Calypso... The raft came ashore this morning..."

My eyes slowly closed, and I forced myself to take deep breaths.

"But... Uh... I got you these..." I felt Adonis push his flowers into my hands, but my eyes remained closed. I didn't want him to see them shining with tears.

I jumped slightly as I suddenly felt his lips against mine. It wasn't a long, romantic kiss, but it was still a kiss all the same.

"Come here, Calypso." I felt his hand grab mine and pull me off towards the shore. I finally let my eyes open, simply so I wouldn't trip and fall on my face.

"Calypso... I'm sorry. I would stay with you, I would, but... My mother and father-"

"Yes, yes. I know." I was used to hearing this. I forced my eyes to stare at the ocean, not letting them slip to Adonis' face.

"But I swear Calypso, I'll come back. As soon as my parents know I'm okay."

My eyes flashed to his face. This was new. My body was suddenly regenerated with lively energy, which was immediately crushed once again.

"But, Adonis, you can't shipwreck on Ogygia twice. That's not how it works."

Adonis shook his head, his black hair flopping around. "I don't care. I'll find a way back. I swear on the River Styx, Calypso."

A silent tear trickled down my cheek. "I wish, Adonis. I wish with all my heart that you could."

He embraced me again, but this time neither of us pulled away. We sat like this, just holding each other, listening to the waves crash against the shore.

How dare this island be so peaceful, even when there was so much despair that had happened on it.

Adonis slowly pulled away, and I was astonished to see that his eyes were slightly watery. I looked away quickly, though, so he wouldn't know I had seen them.

Adonis turned around, and stepped onto the raft. There was already bags of food and containers of water supplied by the Gods themselves on it.

The second Adonis was situated, the raft pulled away from the shores of Ogygia.

"Goodbye, Calypso." He said, one last time.

I sat down on the sand, setting the flowers beside me carefully, and pulled my knees to my chest. I watched Adonis until the raft disappeared on the horizon. And then I wept. For how long, I am unsure.