A/N: Hey guys! Back with another one! Hope you enjoy!
She's tipping the water onto the plants when the glass slips from her hands and shatters on the floor.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" she cries out immediately, as the teacher turns towards the source of the noise.
"I'll clean it up!" she continues, frantically searching the studio for a broom. Thankfully class is over and it's just her and Robin, the pottery class instructor.
Who probably hates her now for breaking the glass.
It'd become routine once she'd expressed how much she enjoyed the class for her to stay after and go around helping with cleanup or watering the plants as the two chatted. But she'd never broken the glass she used to water the plants before.
"It's okay," Robin says kindly, walking over to see the broken pieces on the floor.
"I'm so sorry," she repeats, bending down to help pick up the larger pieces. This is what she gets for not getting enough sleep last night.
"It's okay dear," Robin smiles at her. "It happens. I got this."
Annabeth disposes of the larger pieces as Robin returns with a broom. She has no choice but to slump down on one of the chairs and watch her favorite instructor clean up her mess.
"I feel so bad, can I make it up to you?" she asks, watching Robin empty the rest into the trash.
Robin shakes her head. "It's really no problem, it was meant to happen at some point anyway."
"What do you mean?" Annabeth's brows scrunch together. Did her teacher believe that she was bound to break something all along?
Robin smiles at her. "Every time you tip the glass it has the potential to break." Reaching into the cupboard she pulls out a new one. "This glass is easy to replace, but not all things are."
"I'm glad it wasn't too expensive," she agrees. Though she still feels bad.
Robin shakes her head. "You misunderstand me." She nods towards the window where a planter box sits. "How could you water those plants without the risk of the glass breaking?"
Annabeth frowns. "You mean without tipping the glass? It's impossible, you have to pour the water."
Her teacher smiles. "Or you could leave the glass in the center and fill it up."
"How would that help?"
"Once the glass is full it would start to overflow, and the water would reach the soil around it. You'd be watering the plants without ever tipping the glass and risking a break."
Before Annabeth can say anything, she continues. "Of course, with these glasses it's impractical. But, as I said before, not everything is replaceable."
She meets Annabeth's eyes, knowingly. "You can't pour from an empty cup anyway."
And that's when she realizes that the bags under her eyes are not as well hidden as she thought. Her late nights spread between helping her friend through a breakup and studying for classes have officially caught up to her.
She's run herself dry, and much like the pottery they make here, the cracks are starting to show.
And if she continues to tip that glass, it's going to break.
"You can go home early today, I'm good here," Robin says, breaking her out of her thoughts. "Get some rest."
Annabeth goes home and sleeps. Ignores her phone, ignores the homework for one day that isn't even due yet, ignores everything other than what her body is telling her.
It takes some time, but she learns how to pour into herself. No tipping, no breaking, just adding.
It starts with small things that make her happy: a milkshake, reading a book, going on a walk. At some point she progresses to drawing lines, saying no when she needs to.
She tries not to think about it too much, just tries to do what feels right.
A semester later, she returns to the old pottery studio.
"Annabeth!" Robin greets with a warm smile. "So good to see you!"
"I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while," she apologies, genuinely sorry for only popping in a handful of times during the past few months.
"Oh, it's okay," Robin's eyes seem to twinkle at her. "I see you've been pouring into the glass."
Annabeth's eyebrows raise upwards in surprise. "How did you know?"
"When you overflow, you leave flowers in your wake everywhere you go. I can feel them. You look radiant."
She can't stop the blush rising to her face. It's true that she's feeling better than ever before. It's much easier to help others, to give, when you have everything you need and more.
"Thank you," she replies earnestly, hoping Robin can see the gratitude she wishes to express.
"Robin, where did you wan—" the other voice is cut off and Annabeth looks up to see a guy holding a vase, staring at the two of them.
"Oh, right here is fine Percy," Robin answers, gesturing to the table. "Annabeth, meet one of my new students this semester, Percy."
"Hi," she says shyly, completely aware of how cute the guy in front of her is.
"Hi," he responds a little breathlessly.
"Annabeth, do you want to stay and help us for a bit?" Robin asks.
She's not sleep deprived with bags under eyer eyes this time. This time, she has an excess to give. (And god does she want to stay).
Annabeth nods. "I'd love to."
Percy shoots her a shy smile and her heart flutters. When she looks back at Robin, her old teacher is beaming.
"Maybe save some of those flowers you've been growing for him," she says in a low voice, shooting her a wink.
Annabeth blushes the same color as the roses in the windowsill.
A/N: I wanted to cover a concept that I've recently actualized which is the idea that working on yourself, giving to yourself, leaves not only you but those around you better too. Your actions spill out into the environment around you and has a surprising effect on those around you.
Plus, you are able to help, give and assist in a much better way when you're not running low on steam.
It's a concept I'd heard of before, but seeing it actualized in my life was a whole other thing, so I decided to write on it.
I hope you guys liked it, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Please Review!
And as always thanks for reading!
See ya! :)