Lost in Aestia

1. Gods

"The humans are begging again," Heara says with disgust. Her red hair tied in a tight braid and her celestial gown clinging tightly to her figure. Her eyes burned with the rage only someone with so much disdain would be able to muster. She crosses her legs as she tries to position them in a way that looks longer.

"What's new there?" Aryo grins and glances at Heara's legs. Giving it the attention that any man would give if they see it or her. The only one who wouldn't look at her that way is her brother, but he barely looks at anything or even says anything.

Aryo turns to the said man that was just sitting on one of the convoluted star particles that God made out of nothing. "what do you think, Girhoe?"

Girhoe gave Aryo a bored look before turning away with the gray dust following him like a miasmatic snake.

Aryo shrugs at Heara and follows the uninterested Girhoe. "What do you want to do, Girhoe?"

"Oh, come on. Let's do something actually interesting," Heara says, the hair of her body rising as the heat comes off of her in waves. "Girhoe would always want to play in the water."

"then play in the water we must," Aryo cheerfully says. His feet skip while Heara follows him closely.

"But the water takes out the fire," Heara says under her breath.

Aryo smirks and puts his arm over her shoulders. Not bothered by the rising heat on her body that would undoubtedly burn a mortal human if they were that close, "then we'll simply just light it up again."

Heara smiles, a small tint of blush on her cheeks, not that she needed anything to make her even look more beautiful. The goddess has the beauty that every celestial want to attain.

Girhoe walks farther and farther from them as he ignores their presence. He sighs in boredom and snaps his fingers. He is immediately materialized back to his room, one of the few rare places he feels comfortable in.

The room with rocks on its shelves and has one of the Moons in perfect view from his window.

"How easy it is to destroy this boring world" he whispers, he pulls his moon an inch closer to the world. A small rumbling and shaking off the earth, and he hears more humans calling for his name. Calling for a God who they think cares, but he could barely recognize their existence.

How typical he thought. It took an inch and a small tremor, and the humans, of course, ask him to save them. It almost demands him to keep him like it was his job to do so.

It irritated him to the point that he does something different than before. He pulls his moon again this time, three inches closer, and the earth rumbles and shakes. He even hears a large crater forming on the land.

This was it, the only thing that could make him feel so less empty. This connection between him and his moon that he pulls every time it strikes his fancy. The invisible cord that only he can grasp and manipulate. He is left poking at the bond as he sits on the throne made for him by the humans in his altar.

Then he wondered, even just for a second. Is this all there is to his immortal life?

Celestial Palace

"Your son is tormenting the people," Leah says while caressing Faerha's cheek.

"Let him be," he pulls his wife's hand closer to him. "So, he destroys this world. We'll make another one."

"We already have two children, my dear," Leah whispers seductively.

Faerha's chuckle was low "two kids, two worlds? It's not enough"

Two Worlds, Two beings

"So, the deoxygenated blood travels through the vena cava and enters the bicuspid valve to get to the right atrium. Then down to the right ventricle and enters the pulmonary valve that travels to the lungs to get oxygen," I started to draw an outline of the heart, which for someone who had her only C in art, the best I can do. I turn to look at the students who were intently listening to me as I continue

"When the hemoglobin has bonded with the oxygen, it'll come back to the heart through the pulmonary vein and enters the left ventricle and passes through the semilunar valve to the left atrium and aortic valve then to the body tissues. It's pretty straightforward from there as it is circulation."

I capped my marker and look at the students with a smile. "Now, I want you to do some lab work, which means actual research, and it must be passed next week." Unlike high school students, there weren't any groans of protest but just attentive students hanging on to every word that I say. "All about the lymph nodes of the body."

I looked at my watch and nodded, "You still have time for a head start, so I'll dismiss you early from here."

The students started piling out of the room, which made me worry at how adamant they seemed to be for wanting to get away from me. I smile as they went out while they give me their goodbyes. I sat back on my desk and started to write on the attendance and my notes for today. I still couldn't believe I'd been working here for a year. Teaching these med students the primary human anatomy. I mean, it wasn't so long ago that I was one of them. Barely surviving my broke ass and passing. I sigh and shake my head.

A year ago, this was my Dad's job, and now I'm sitting where he sat for 15 years. I look up and stare at the rising tables and chairs. I didn't think I'll be able to take Dad's teaching job at this university, but now it's been a year. It's also been a year since he died, and the reminder made me feel a twinge in my chest. I try to shake it off to do my work when my phone suddenly vibrates. I turn it over, and it was Mom.

What time are you coming here? Her text says.

I look at the clock on the far wall. I squint to try and see it, which made me think that I should probably be getting my own glasses soon. I think about it and realize that I'll be home at 8. I texted Mom the time and closed my records to start on getting ready to head back.

Going back to my childhood home is a lengthy drive. I don't know how Dad even managed to get to this university every day and then drive back home. Sighing, I made it into the faculty, and I see only a handful of professors were left.

"good evening," I say, smiling. My colleagues smiled back, and I went to my cubicle. I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail and started packing up the papers from the last quiz and pushed it in my briefcase. I still have a lot of things to do, and according to my planner, I must go to the university hospital to teach some of the residents.

"One night, won't hurt," I whisper under my breath. I brushed some crumbs away from my table when someone unexpectedly knocks on my cubicle.

"You're going, right?" Eugene says.

I smiled and nodded, "Yeah, I'm almost ready."

He beams and nodded too. He puts his hands in his pockets and looks down in his notorious shy way. "I could drive you if you want."

"I appreciate that, but I have my car here," I said, shouldering my bag and grabbing my briefcase. "I can't leave it in the university parking lot."

"Harvard is known to be a safe place," he presses. I see his hair is newly gelled because of how shiny it was. I could smell perfume assaulting my nose at a meter's proximity from him. "For cars, I mean."

I try not to smile awkwardly or forced. I know Eugene has liked me since I can remember, but I really don't know how to break it to him gently. I shake my head "I'm sorry, but my Mom is waiting for me. Next time, I'll probably take up the offer," I sidestepped to avoid him even though I know his strong perfume would permanently impair my nose but that I can live with.

He moves and blocks me. he is just inches away now, and his face looked grim. "I don't want to impose, but I really want to give you a ride."

I smile, my left cheek twitching from the force of it. "Eugene, this is a hard time for my family and me. I really hope you understand," I swear, I would punch him if he doesn't move.

This seems to appease him. "Right, I'm sorry. I just wanted to help you in this painful time," his face lightens as if nothing had happened.

"Excuse me, and I hope you have a nice night," I break away from him and walk down to the parking area. I seriously need to report that man in HR. I groan as I get to my car and open the driver's door. I threw my stuff on the seat and sat with feet still outside to change from my heels to flats.

I lock the door when I'm finished and start the engine. My car is relatively new, and I was able to smell it, which comforted me that Eugene's perfume didn't permanently hurt me. But I'm sure that smell would haunt my dreams at night, and I would forever be traumatized by it. Sighing, I drove out of the parking lot and out of the university. It's an hour's drive, and I won't be able to make it in time if I drag on any longer.

I hear my phone vibrate in my bag. I try to fish it out as my eyes are on the road. I curse when I can't feel for it, then I remember it's in one of the pockets. Stupid, of course, I put it there. I keep hearing it vibrate, and I was able to take it out. It was Mom, I answer it and put it on a loudspeaker.

"Sorry, Mom I was driving, and the phone was in my bag" I put the phone on my lap

"You bought a nice car that doesn't have Bluetooth?" I can hear the amusement in her voice.

I roll my eyes. "Okay, this is given to me by the university, I didn't buy ought per se. also it does have Bluetooth, I just don't have the time to pair it yet."

"You've been busy for a long time. You need to rest" I hear meowing in the background which was probably Bie. I can't believe that cat is still alive.

"What do you think I'm doing? I took a day off, remember," I smile while I headed to the highway.

"That's good, that's the least that you can do. We have to light Dad's candle together," she says, her voice raspy. She probably slept late as she always does on Mondays. She doesn't work until Tuesdays in a community college teaching linguistics.

"Okay, I'm on my way there already," I laugh.

"I made some of your favorite food too," Mom adds. "they're delicious."

"of course they are. Well, see you soon then."

"Later, hon. See you later."

When I parked the car on the curb and locked it. I took my stuff with me. Mom was already at the porch in her thick sweater and a soft smile. She helps me with my things while saying that my hair needs more attention.

"it looks like wilted flowers," she says while feeling for my hair between her fingers.

I sigh and drop my stuff on the couch. "stop it, Mom."

"you have such beautiful black hair" Mom runs her hand through my hair and pulls my hair tie out. "Sit down," she points to the floor.

"I can take care of my own hair Mom" I whine but sit on the floor anyway as I know it's futile to argue with her. She sits on the sofa with me on the floor. She puts her legs on either side of me as she brushes my hair. "I'm not a child anymore."

"You are to me," she says. her warm hands and soft brushing felt soothing. "you have your father's hair."

I lean back to her, "I like your hair better" Her blonde hair has the same color as hay. It's wavy and reached the middle of her back. Her hair is to die for, and yet she has this fascination with brunettes or any dark hair. "A lot of kids my age would love to have your hair."

She scowls, "Kids your age don't know what they want. I should know some of them are in my class."

I giggle and stretch my legs. I sigh when she braids my hair. She works gently and feels like a massage than someone tying my hair. "I thought we needed to light the candle."

"Shh, we need to make you presentable first. I don't want your Dad to see you like I haven't taken care of you" Mom has always been superstitious. She believes this one day, Dad comes back to us. She believes in a great deal lot of things which some are strange and don't even make any sense. "We need to light the candle in our best clothes."

"Why?" I ask

"you never listen to your Mother's culture." She huffs and finishes my hair. "So, your Dad could be welcomed back. He needs us to lead his way to this house."

I sigh, "Okay, okay. I get it," I stand, and Mom looks at me from top to bottom and smiles. "what?"

"You look beautiful," she says while standing and hugging me. She is taller than me and prettier, so I don't see why she says that I'm beautiful.

"you're prettier, mom," I say while patting her back.

She sniffs, "You don't understand how beautiful you are, Einith."

I shrug and lean back. "anyway, the candle?"

She perks and nods. "I'll go get it." she straightens my sweater first and brushed off imaginary dust from my pants before fading to the kitchen. I sit on one of the couches and still see our family picture on the mantle.

That has always been our favorite picture of the three of us. Us on the beach while Dad was still alive. We were smiling and on the verge of laughing as Dad was about to throw sand at Mom, and I shielded my face with my hands. Mom's best friend, Aunt Andrea, took it for us. You'll never think that Dad was already at the terminal stage of his cancer. How ironic it was to be a patient when you're a doctor yourself. I remember Dad being a bit difficult with his doctors since he claims to know better.

I smile at the memory. Mom comes out, holding a yellow candle. She turns off the lights and puts it on the coffee table. She sits beside me and gives me the match. "This better not be a resurrection spell. If you're offering me for his life, I would see that as a great betrayal."

"Einith!" she chides. "I would never."

"joking, Ma," I kiss her cheek, and I light the match. She took one too and lights her own with mine.

"Now, we must light it together" We lean forward and, at the same time, lit the yellow candle. It lit up the living room, and Mom took my lit match and threw it on a plate with water, which I just noticed. She threw hers as well, and we lean back on the couch.

"Now, what?" I ask

she breathes in profoundly "We appreciated the silence and wait for his presence."

I scoff, "this resurrection spell sucks."

"Einith," she chides again.

"I kid," I kiss her cheek again and sink in the pillows. "but seriously, we should've at least eaten something first."

she rolls her eyes and holds my hand. "After this. We need to have a family dinner again."

I sigh and watch as the fire danced on its own. I can't believe we're doing this, but here we really are. Doing it.

"Einith, your Father is home," she suddenly says, which surprises me. I look around, and no one and nothing is happening. "well, we should eat." She blows the candle and fades into the kitchen.

"Thanks for leaving me when you made it creepy!" I shouted while I stood on my feet and went to the dining room the ready our plates.

"Set for 3 people!" she shouts.

"Okay!" I took plates, utensils, and coasters for three people. I find it easy to go along with Mom's belief's rather than against it. this is how Mom copes and lives through her grief, and I'm not going to ruin it. "I'm done."

"here's the food," she says while carrying a big pot and putting it in the middle.

"Mom, it's just the two of—"

"Three"

"—us, you don't have to make such a large serving."

she throws a look at me. "remind that to me when I'm a spirit and have no place to eat when I visit you," she sits on her usual chair.

"I would rather not let you visit me. It'll be creepy to still eat with my parents in ghost form" I smile and sit on my usual chair.

"Your father is going to appreciate this," she says, smiling. "Once we meet again."

I sigh, withholding the things that I wanted to say, and just ate with her. What else am I supposed to do anyway?

So, we ate. Mom told me about the things that happened to her in the community college while I told her about mine minus Eugene. We talked about Dad and the things we could've done with him. Mom let out a tear before toughening up and gritting her teeth. By the time we were cleaning dishes, I had thought this would be my life at Dad's death every year. Soon, I would learn that that's not the case at all.