That was all could feel, well not really, she could feel a lot of things right now. To say that she was overwhelmed would not be an understatement.
Disbelief, that was also a feeling that is currently going over her, her mind battling the truth she just heard with this new information she received.
Fear, Annabeth acknowledges that there was a lot of that emotion flooding her being right about now. And rightly so, she tells herself. Fear is exactly what she should be feeling upon hearing the news her brother shared with all of them
But The emotion that is currently overriding all other in her is, unexpectedly is, Hope.
Hope for forgiveness
Hope for reconciliation
Hope for friendship renewed
'Hope for more than friendship perhaps', a small voice at the back of her mind whispered. a voice that took all her brain power to silence.
inwardly shaking her head, she tried to start thinking of plans on how to go forwards with all the information available. but try as she might, her mind kept coming back to one thought.
Piper, Hazel, mother, Malcolm, Leo, Percy, no stop mission, young campers, schematics, books, Percy...stop it, training, Chiron, dad, Sally, PERCY!
PERCY!
PERCY!
PERCY!
PERCY!
her mind was on roller coaster ride. only this one has no end in sight. going round and round, circling one singular thought. PERCY!
She finally surrendered to her mind and allowed it to take her to where it wants to go, which to her surprise was the morning of the same day. thoughts went back to earlier when the day started.
Of her waking up, feeling numb, like always since that fateful day she lost him seven years ago. of spending every day since wracked with guilt so severe she couldn't escape from it. not that she wants to escape. So, every day was spent forcing herself to get up and go through the day as if she was fine. Hurting but fine. But she was anything but fine. she was the furthest from being fine.
She remembers this morning starting just like every other morning, waking up to a heaviness in her heart. forcing herself to get up and marshal her cabin to get ready for breakfast. Talking with her sister Bea, who is standing in for Malcolm as co-councilor while he's gone.
She remembers leading her siblings in prayer for Malcolm's safety, already late in coming back. Then she proceeded with her schedule for the day, going through her activities in almost a robotic way. Just a person going through the motions.
She remembers the day almost went by the same way as it had been until Travis sought her out, informing her of news about her brother and his. That they are on the way back. And that there will be a meeting later at dinner. She remembers almost thanking Travis when her attention shifted to a camper that lost his footing on the lava wall.
Then she remembers spending time at the beach, the only spot where finds peace, the place where she feels connected to him. Their "spot", hers and Percy's. back when they were still together. She remembers smiling as she thought back to the memories of all they went though.
She smiled through the pain of remembering how she broke his heart. pain that only intensified when he vanished from her sight. She never thought how her feelings for him would grow to the point where his absence would cause physical pain to her.
"Absence make the heart grow fonder" she thought.
She never gave any credence to that saying, but the here she is. her heart shouting out for her lost Love. longing for the chance for happiness she squandered.
She remembers being shocked by the conch sounding off, of her silent prayer to Poseidon as she gazed longingly at the sea. she remembers dinner that day, of being called by a nymph for a meeting at the big house.
Finally, she remembers the meeting they just had. of revelations that shocked her to her core. Which brings her to the present
And as she was struggling to calm her mind and heart from thoughts of Percy, another bomb was dropped on top of her with Leo's declaration
"I found Piper!"
With those words, s mind finally gave up trying to make sense of how today went. She closed her eyes as she sent a silent prayer to her mother for guidance, and to the fates as well, a heartfelt plea for a chance at happiness, of one more chance, one last chance.
With being with Percy