Chapter 28

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Her sisters would be gone in the morning. It was a tearful goodbye as they went to sleep that night. Psyche had never known her sisters to be so fun, so enjoyable to be around. 

Psyche had slept only a few hours before waking again. Aglaura had given her a lamp, asking her again to consider the possibility of leaving her prison and rejoining the world.

It felt so strange that her sister would suggest defying the Goddess, suggest that she break free and escape her punishment.

Even though it didn’t always feel like a punishment.   

Cydippe also had a present for her. She gave her a knife, arguing it could be useful for any number of things: cutting the ropes if he tied her up; slitting his throat if he tried to eat her; surviving in the wilderness if he just dumped her somewhere and she had to make her way home. 

Cydippe definitely read too many stories. 

Having them in her possession made her uneasy, so she made them disappear soon after her sisters had gone to bed. 

Her husband would never hurt her, she was sure of that. 

Well, she was pretty sure. 

Talking to her sisters, Psyche realized there was still so much she didn’t know about him. Yes, he was kind and easy to love, but who was he really? 

Would she ever know? 

Seeing her sisters again, sisters she’d known her whole life, filled her cup to overflowing. It was wonderful to reconcile, to heal and grow closer together. 

She was going to miss them. 

She thought about all of the people in their respective kingdoms. They would hopefully find her sisters better and happier for their time with her. Psyche didn’t feel she deserved the credit for all of the change that had taken place within them, but she felt deep gratitude that her husband had allowed them to come. 

He was so good. 

Except, how was she going to go back to lounging around the palace again? Being useless again? Aglaura had said that the world needed her. How would she be able to help them here?

Psyche watched the sun rise. 

It was so beautiful here. It felt selfish not to share. 

But that wasn’t her choice to make. She was not really the master here. Her husband was. This wasn’t her home, it was his. It would be up to him whether she was allowed to share it or not.

She reverted the palace to the cottage. She missed everyone. She felt lonely and empty. She hoped the simple structure would provide some comfort, some sense of being closer to her people.

It didn’t.

A house without people is just — empty. 

And that’s how she felt. 

She busied herself throughout the day tending to the insects. She gathered a few piles for the ants. She grew additional plants to suit the butterflies. She grew a few more blossoms for the bees. 

It all felt silly. 

These were animals of her own creation, receiving help from more items of her own creation. 

It was all in her head. 

Meaningless. 

Figments of her imagination. 

Her cottage turned back into the cave and Psyche went in to take a nap.

But she couldn’t sleep.

She lay on the bed, thinking.

What was she to do? 

Continue to live like this? 

Or —

She turned on her side, trying to turn away from the alternative.

She loved her husband. He was so good. He’d saved her from Aphrodite’s edict, saved her from her 

punishment. 

Yet there was a part of Psyche that felt Aglaura was right. 

She was still a prisoner, unable to see things clearly, unable to know the truth. 

A lamp appeared in Psyche’s hand and her heart began pounding. 

Could she? 

She stared at the forbidden object. 

Was this the only way to be free?

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