several years after the battle of manhattan, perseus jackson and annabeth chase were finally getting married. the battle worn heroes, bound by fate were making it government official at last. you should be happy, right? annabeth is your best friend, and she’s finally getting the happily ever after she deserves. right?

you never forgot. the stolen moments, the whispered confessions, the way her lips felt against yours. the secrets you’d take to the grave. the memories that never faded, the way she looked at you when no one else was watching. no matter how much time passed.

and now, standing in the middle of a celebration that feels like it’s suffocating you, you wonder if she ever thinks about it too. if she remembers the way your fingers fit together like they were made to.

you went to help her with her dress before she walked down the aisle, fingers smoothing delicate fabric. her eyes are glossy, voice soft.

she sniffled, letting out a shaky laugh before meeting your gaze in the reflection.

“you came,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

like you could ever stay away.

you force a grin. “of course i did. wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

a lie. because if you could, you’d be anywhere else—anywhere but here, watching her walk toward a future that was never meant to include you.

but then, before you could stop yourself, the words slipped out.

“do you remember us?”

her hands froze where they had been smoothing the fabric of her dress, her breath hitching. for a second, she didn’t move, didn’t speak, just stared at you in the mirror, something unreadable flickering behind her stormy gray eyes.

“i could never forget.” her voice is barely a whisper. then, quieter, like she’s trying to convince herself—“but it doesn’t change anything. its a small thing that happened.”

“the world ended when it happened to me.”