Home. It felt like home to hold her in my arms once more. But then again, why her? We had no history. No passion. Not even a strong desire to be one. And yet, there was a soft magic in our little embrace.

She had not even been gone for that long. She had spent the last season back at her home kingdom. Not a long time at all. And yet to see Persephone back from her travels was a pure solace. A piece of peace to appease our souls. We both felt it. There was no doubt of that. We both truly felt it.

It’s not as if I had ever the chance to enjoy some real time with Persephone. I was just a district sword on his usual patrols. She was just a youthful lass on her rounds of revelries. And in the Capital, our paths would always cross. She was the new familiar face. And I was the new patroller. Within our lovely little district, our names became common chatter. Of course, we would hear of each other. And so, of course, we soon knew each other.

Introductions were simple. We both noticed each other in an instant. How could we both not notice the shine we brought to our dear little district. We were the stars who drew the smiles upon the mob. And likewise, we drew smiles upon each other. But the easiest part about she and I was that we knew exactly how to shine together. The more stars in the sky, the brighter the night.

We never made any real efforts to connect more than we had to. Things between us were already comfortable. Folk liked having her around. Folk liked having me around. What was hard about that? We both liked having each other around. But that wasn’t all. We both just understood each other.

The revelries and the mob were easy game. It never took much to enjoy a crowd in their cups. Cups was our game after all, so she and I knew our way around the mess.

And yet, every once in a while, we would both need a short break backstage. That’s when we finally understood. We both just knew. And we both just smiled. Even without discussing a thing, we both just knew we understood one another.

There is a wonderous harmony when you meet someone you don’t have to get to know. There is flow. And that flow would never disrupt your own. How could it when it flowed just the same.

And that’s where it gets more wonderous.

We never connected further. Yet, we already shared our unspoken bond. And that’s likely why tonight, after only one season apart, we fell into each other’s arms.

We were never close. We never truly bonded. And yet, we missed each other dearly. She fell right into my arms. And I held her tight in case I found myself without her again.

We do our best not to give each other a lover’s kiss. Always. We do our best. We both knew our roles. And yet we both already knew… Somehow, with everything left unspoken, we both just knew.

Our moment was short lived. As I said, we knew our roles. She was the youthful lass. I was the district sword. And we both went about our ways. At least we knew we would soon see each other again.

I thank the skies she has come back. Centuries are too long when our embrace feels like home.

I know she feels safer now, too. I’m now just around the corner for whenever her heart needs me again.

And so, as usual, she and I will do our best…

Even when we know we don’t need to, we will do our best…

-Daniel Roy