Chapter 21

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Psyche shifted her waking hours to night so that she and her husband could spend more time together. 

He didn’t mind listening to her stories of the villagers. He seemed quite familiar with most of them anyway. It was as if he had spent a good deal of time among them too. He didn’t quite share her love and appreciation for them, but he enjoyed her stories. 

“I still don’t quite understand something,” he said. “How is it that you can work so tirelessly among them? Don’t you find it exhausting?”

“At times I probably overdid it,” she admitted, “but I could never get tired of people. I only wish they would have accepted me more, allowed me to be one of them.”

“What do you mean?” he said.

“There was always some kind of barrier between me and the villagers. It was the same between me and the nobles. There was always some kind of awkward formality which never seemed to go away, no matter what I did,” she said. 

“You sound sad,” he said. 

“I am sad,” she said. “I never seemed to belong anywhere. I could never be good enough for my sisters, never felt comfortable with the overall pride of the nobles. My wealth and status always kept me from being one of the villagers.”

She thought for a moment.

“Maybe that’s why I preferred the cottage at first,” she said. “I have always wanted a place where I felt like I belonged, a place where I could be fully embraced and accepted.” 

“You provided that for the people in the village, I think,” he said, thoughtful. “That’s why they loved you so much. You never put up barriers or put on airs. You just accepted and loved everyone. 

“Although I wonder if some of them actually deserved it.” 

“What do you mean?” Psyche said, interested.

“Well, that Adonis fellow,” he said. “I’m still struggling with that story. I know you told me he deserved another chance, but seriously. How many chances does a person need?”

Psyche chuckled.

“As many times as it takes,” she said. “In Adonis’s case it only took a few times making mistakes and pulling himself up. He married Chloe, you know. She has been a big help to him. I lost track of him after I had to focus on getting married.” 

He was quiet for a moment.

“Would you, um, like me to check on them for you?” he said.

She immediately sat up.

“You could do that??” she said. 

“Why certainly,” he said. “I have my ways of navigating between worlds. Would you like me to check on anyone else?” 

“Would I??” she said excitedly. 

He laughed.

“What if every night I can bring you some news from the village until you’re completely satisfied?” he said.

Psyche wanted to cry with joy. 

“No one — “ she said, her voice breaking. “No one has ever offered me a greater gift.”

“Your love for people is quite astounding, Psyche, ” he said. “I can’t quite understand it, but I can feel it. You really mean it. You really care for them.

“Why? Why do you care for them so much?” 

“I can’t explain it,” she said, laying back down and looking up at the black sky. “It’s just how I feel. I can’t help it. I just — love them all so much. They each hold something special within them. They each have something worth loving, worth cherishing.”

He took her hand and kissed it.

“And I love you for it,” he said. “I wish you could come with me and see everyone. For now, I hope my reports will be a satisfactory substitute.”

She turned to him, now easily finding him without sight, and embraced him. She certainly loved the people of her kingdom, but she couldn’t imagine loving anyone more than she was growing to love him. He was so caring, so patient, so wonderful. He was interesting and curious. 

She couldn’t think of a better person to be married to, or a better person to spend the rest of her life with.

Still, something didn’t make sense and Psyche frowned.

“What’s the matter?” he said, immediately concerned.

“Am I your punishment?” she asked.  

“Psyche,” he said, pain in his voice. “How can you still doubt yourself? You are the most beautiful, the wonderful being I’ve ever known. If this is my punishment, I wouldn’t want paradise.”

“You are too good to me,” she said, blushing. “I just can’t understand how someone as perfect and wonderful as you could choose me? I imagine you could be with anyone, whomever your heart desires.

“The oracle’s edict said I was to marry a monster so horrible, even the gods feared him. You are certainly no monster, even if the gods do fear you. 

“I just can’t understand. How could the Goddess Aphrodite mean for me to marry you? The Goddess cannot lie.”

“Psyche, are you happy?” he said. 

“Unbelievably,” she said. “I had no idea I could be so happy. I can’t imagine myself with any other being, monster or man.” 

“Then what does it matter?” he said. 

“Are you happy?” she asked, softly.

“Unbelievably,” he said. 

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