If I Had Words

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Chapter 83      Chapter 85

“How can you be sure you’ll find her out here?” Hades asked.

Persephone and Hades were standing on the Plains. Hades had Persephone almost completely shielded, so as not to draw any attention from the wandering spirits. Her light was too bright, the suffering and the wretched would surely be drawn to her.

They didn’t have time to help anyone. 

They needed to stay focused. 

“I know she’s here,” Persephone said. “It’s in her nature to help.”

Hades regarded Persephone.

“How do you know so much about this mortal?” he asked.

“There’s a lot you can learn from a conversation,” she said. “There is just something about her. I think you’ll see it too once you meet her.”

“What’s that light over there?” Hades said, looking into the distance behind them. “I’ve never seen that before.”

“That could be her,” Persephone said, taking his hand. 

They were soon approaching the light, and sure enough, in the middle of a crowd of spirits sat Psyche. Her light was bright and true. She had attracted all sorts of troubled spirits to her, each hoping to get some help. Another bright spirit was not far, also talking with the spirits as they waited for their turn to talk to Psyche.

“I can imagine,” Psyche was saying to a spirit, a nice portly woman. “It is hard knowing your children will be alright when you’re here and they’re not. But it’s because you’ve done so much that you can confidently know that all is well. You’ve shown them the way. Now, let them surprise you. When you meet them again, you may come to see them in a completely different light. 

“Trust your children. They miss you, but when it’s their time, they will join you here. Be at peace. It does no good worrying about them and wandering the Plains alone. Why not enter your rest and prepare for their arrival?”  

The spirit visibly brightened, her countenance matching her growing smile. 

A ripple went through the crowd as they noticed Hades and Persephone approaching.

“We are sorry to disturb, but we need to speak with Psyche,” Persephone said. 

Most of the spirits stood and bowed to Psyche and then bowed to Hades and Persephone. 

Hades noticed the spirits’ reverence for Psyche. This must have been what Aphrodite was complaining about. It did feel odd to have spirits of his own realm show reverence to another spirit.  

Perhaps she was not a mere spirit. Perhaps she had not been a mere mortal.

There were, of course, some spirits who complained at the interruption. 

They hadn’t had their turn yet! 

They had been waiting so patiently and how would they know whether they would get a turn later. 

The groaning spirits were silenced by Hades as he extended his hand towards them and they fled. 

The moans and complaints were heard as they continued their wandering, looking for someone else who could help them. 

Psyche stood and bowed before the rulers of the Underworld. 

“Psyche, we need you to come with us to the Hall of the Gods,” Persephone said.

“Why?” Psyche said, concerned. “Have I done something wrong?”

“On the contrary, I believe you have done something right,” Persephone said. 

“I don’t know how that can be,” Psyche said. “There are so many things I get wrong.”

Persephone looked at Hades.

“Why is it hard for you to believe you’ve done something right?” Hades asked, genuinely interested.

Psyche was surprised to have him address her. The God of the Underworld Himself? She couldn’t find the words to respond. 

“You don’t have to be afraid,” Hades said, trying to hide a bit of irritation. 

“I’m not afraid. It’s just that I always seem to be getting into trouble with the gods,” Psyche said, looking down. “I would much rather stay here.” 

“You would?” Hades said, surprised. 

“Yes, I would,” Psyche said. “I love the work.” 

Hades looked at Persephone. He’d never known a spirit to be so happy on the Plains of the Underworld. 

“But is this where you belong, Psyche?” Persephone said. 

“I think so,” Psyche said.

“What about Eros?” Persephone said. “Don’t you love him?”

“Oh, yes, I love him dearly,” Psyche said. “But I failed the last task. There is no way I can be with him now.”

“Are you sure?” Persephone said. 

“I can’t see how it can be any other way,” Psyche said. “Aphrodite said if I failed, I would be exiled until my death. It seems my death saved me from exile. I’m so glad. I was dreading exile the most.” 

Persephone looked at Hades. 

“She seems happy where she is,” Hades said. “Maybe we should leave her.” 

“This isn’t where she belongs, Hades,” Persephone said. “She belongs with Eros.” 

Hades wasn’t so sure, but he held his peace.

“Psyche, why did you open the box?” Persephone said. 

Psyche looked down. So many thoughts. What would be appropriate to say to the Goddess? What would be the least embarrassing to say out loud? 

“I wanted to be like you,” Psyche said. 

“Tell me more,” Persephone said, encouraging Psyche to dig deeper. 

“The world praises and strives for the kind of beauty Aphrodite possesses. I had never beheld beauty such as yours,” Psyche said. 

“Did you presume yourself worthy of my beauty?” Persephone said. 

Persephone wondered if she was being too hard on Psyche, but Psyche was about to go before the council. She needed to know how Psyche saw herself. 

Psyche was quiet for a moment. She didn’t want to say something wrong. She certainly didn’t want to lie. The truth, however, might sound prideful. 

“Speak freely,” Persephone said. 

Psyche sighed and straightened. 

“When I was young, I wanted to be like my sisters. They have talents and are very beautiful,” Psyche said. “Over time, however, I realized they were constantly in competition with each other and with everyone around them. Competition means winners and losers. Losers means people feeling less than their true worth. 

“I don’t want that. 

“I want everyone to feel beautiful. I want everyone to know that they are wonderful. That’s what led me to listen to people and spend so much time with them. I was surprised to learn that even the wealthy and beautiful can doubt their worth. Not many, but some. 

“Meeting you was like seeing everything I have been striving to become. You embody the ideal of inspiring people to greater heights while also loving them where they are. 

“Watching your beauty flow into the box made me wonder what I might be meant for. I somehow felt I would find answers in the box,” Psyche said.

“And did you?” Persephone asked.

“I did,” Psyche said. 

“What did you learn about yourself?” Persephone said. 

“I learned that I possess a similar beauty. I am worthy of the worship I received. I have not lived a perfect life, but my efforts have been good. I leave behind a lot of people who have been inspired to do better as well as people who share my ideals and strive for the same goals of helping people feel valued,” Psyche said. 

“Where do you belong, Psyche?” Persephone asked. 

“I belong here, on the Plain,” Psyche said. 

“Why do you feel you belong here?” Persephone said. 

“I can be myself,” Psyche said. “I can shine as brightly as I want without disturbing anyone. I can’t get in trouble here. I can’t be punished anymore. I feel safe to do my work.” 

Persephone thought for a moment. 

“What if you are meant for more?” Persephone said. 

“What more could I be meant for?” Psyche said. 

“What if you were meant to be a goddess?” Persephone said.

Psyche’s eyes grew wide and resisted the urge to prostrate herself.

“That’s impossible,” Psyche said. 

“Is it?” Persephone said. 

“Isn’t that an even worse kind of blasphemy?” Psyche said. 

“Only if you are unworthy,” Persephone said.

“Doesn’t the world already have enough gods and goddesses?” Psyche said. 

“We could use more of the good ones,” Persephone said. 

“I couldn’t possibly,” Psyche said. 

“Couldn’t you?” Persephone said softly.

Psyche looked at the Goddess, confused. 

“Would you want me to become a goddess?” Psyche asked in disbelief. 

Persephone sighed. 

“Aphrodite has her work and her place,” Persephone said. “Her power isn’t all about competition, though she can sometimes get caught up in it. 

“We all try to help in our respective spheres using the powerful gifts we have.

“The world is vast and the work neverending. We could use someone like you, Psyche.” 

Psyche tried to fathom her efforts helping the work of the gods. 

“But I’m so flawed,” Psyche said. 

“That hasn’t stopped Eros from loving you,” Persephone said. “It surely won’t stop you from doing great work as a goddess.” 

“But, I’m already dead. I failed,” Psyche said. 

“Eros has taken your body to Zeus. It is there waiting for you before the council,” Persephone said. 

“What??” Psyche said. “Eros did that?” 

“He loves you very much,” Persephone said. 

Psyche’s light grew brighter. 

“Won’t you come with us?” Persephone asked. “Find out where you really belong?”

Psyche looked around briefly at the Plains. A part of her wanted to stay. It felt safe and uncomplicated. She was already thriving here. She felt like she belonged. 

But maybe. 

Maybe she was meant for more. 

“I’ll come,” Psyche said. 

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