After losing Hyacinthus, Apollo was never the same. He withdrew into his own world, spending most of his time tending to his flowers, especially the hyacinths. The grief was still fresh, and Apollo had not forgiven himself for what happened. His love for Hyacinthus had been deep, and the guilt of causing his death weighed heavily on him.

For a long time, Apollo was consumed by sorrow. Hyacinthus had been his beloved, and the accidental death was a pain he had never experienced before. In his desperation, Apollo refused to let Hades take Hyacinthus to the Underworld. Instead, he used Hyacinthus’ blood to create the flower now called the hyacinth. From that moment on, he became obsessed with the flower, tending to it daily, always making sure it was cared for, as if it still carried Hyacinthus’ presence.

You knew this story all too well. When you went to visit Apollo, you found him in the Garden of the Hesperides, gazing down at a patch of hyacinths. His expression was soft but filled with pain. It was clear he was lost in thought.

Seeing him like this was hard, especially knowing that he was usually so full of light and energy. But now, he was burdened by the weight of his grief.