Apollo turned to his sister. "Are you tired?"
Athena sniffled and shook her head. "I'm worried about Arty."
"So am I, Thena." Apollo sighed. "But we're okay here, I promise. Dad can't get us in here."
"He's not my dad!" Athena yelled suddenly, pounding the pillow with her fists. "Dads don't hurt their kids! Dads don't terrorise their kids! Dads take you to school and tuck you in and play with you! HE IS NOT MY DAD!"
Apollo darted over to his sister and caught her fist as she was about to hit the wall. He sat down on the bed next to her and lifted her onto his lap. Athena fell silent as he just held her.
After a few minutes, Apollo opened his mouth and started softly singing:
"Crushed from the weight of the world on my back
But I'm letting it go and watching it all turn to ash
Fear, it comes in waves but I'm not drowning yet
Cuz I can see the shore and I feel dry again.
All others know that their heart's made of wax
When the heat from the fire melts it down and brings it back
The shape that it takes sets you up for this break
The second time, you're stronger, won't repeat your mistake.
I'll be fine, just give me time.
And from the fire and flame, I will rise.
Oh, I will rise.
Rise.
I'll be fine, just give me time
And from the fire and flame, I will rise
Oh, I will rise
Rise." (1)
After Apollo stopped singing, there was a few minutes of silence. Then Athena whispered, "What does that mean?"
"It means that we'll be fine," Apollo replied softly. "We're strong, and we won't be drowned by our fear and pain. Time will heal us. As long as we stay together, we will be fine."
Athena smiled softly. "O-Okay."
There was silence again for another few minutes.
Eventually, Apollo said, "Do you like green eggs and ham?" (2)
He felt Athena shake as she giggled silently. "I do not like them, Sam-I-am, I do not like green eggs and ham."
"Would you like them here or there?"
"I would not like them here or there. I would not like them anywhere. I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am."
Between them, they recited the entire book. Their mother had read it to them almost every night for several years, so they both knew it off by heart.
"Would you, could you, on a boat?" Apollo said.
Athena paused very briefly, getting ready to deliver the longest line. "I could not, would not, on a boat. I will not, will not, with a goat. I will not eat them in the rain. I will not eat them on a train. Not in the dark! Not in a tree! Not in a car! You let me be! I do not like them in a box. I do not like them with a fox. I will not eat them in a house. I do not like them with a mouse. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them ANYWHERE! I do not like green eggs and ham! I do not like them, Sam-I-am."
Apollo laughed and applauded quietly. "You do not like them. So you say. Try them, try them! And you may. Try them and you may, I say."
"Sam!" Athena exaggerated a sigh. "If you let me be, I will try them. You will see."
She stuck an invisible fork into an invisible plate of invisible green eggs and ham, and pretended to stick it in her mouth. "SAY!" she gasped. "I LIKE green eggs and ham! I do! I like them, Sam-I-Am!"
"Hoorah," Apollo deadpanned.
"Shush." Athena nudged him. "And I would eat them in a boat. And I would eat them with a goat, and I will eat them in the rain. And in the dark. And on a train. And in a car. And in a tree. They are so good, so good, you see! So I will eat them in a box. And I will eat them with a fox. And I will eat them in a house. And I will eat them with a mouse. And I will eat them here and there. Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE! I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!"
"The moral of the story, kids, is to eat your gosh darn vegetables when you're told to, even if they ARE green," Apollo snickered.
"Don't ruin my childhood," Athena chided him.
"You say that like you're nineteen instead of nine."
Before Athena could reply to that, the door opened, and four adults came through, wheeling a stretcher containing…
"Arty!" Athena gasped, scrambling off the bed. Apollo followed and caught his sister before she leapt onto the stretcher.
The four adults gently lifted Artemis from the stretcher and placed her on the bed nearest the door. "She's still under the general," one of them told the two children.
"The anaesthetic," Apollo clarified.
"But her surgery was a success," the doctor continued. "No complications at all. She should wake up within an hour, then you three will be taken to an orphanage to await adoption."
That made Apollo's heart freeze and ache at the same time. So this was it. They were officially orphans now, in the eyes of the law. Two days ago, they had a home and a family. Now they had neither.
But like he had said to Athena, Apollo knew they were lucky. Why?
Because they had each other.
But none of them could ever have anticipated what was to happen just a few short months later.
…
(1) This song is called Rise, by Miranda Kalagian.
(2) The Dr Seuss book called Green Eggs and Ham.
I do not own any of these.