It’s been getting worse every day.

Ever since he had laid his eyes on you, just a simple servant of his castle, his throat had been growing tighter and tighter, his lungs being scratched painfully by growing thorns. He knew exactly what was happening. He was developing some sort of disease, all because of stupid love he felt for you.

A while ago, Odysseus had been widowed after his dear wife Penelope had passed from some sort of heart problems. And for a long time after that, he’s almost shut himself off completely from the world: ignoring royal duties, never going outside, never taking care of himself, et cetera. But time had eventually passed, and he grew to not deny his wife’s death, but to accept it.

But now with his son Telemachus gone, he felt completely alone again. Telemachus, now a grown man, had left the island to become a suitor for a princess in another kingdom. Telemachus had been anything but excited for it, since he had already found another love interest a while back while looking for his father during Odysseus’ time of being lost at sea. Though the prince had no choice, so begrudgingly, he had left, giving his goodbyes to his friends and father before sailing off.

Now Odysseus had been completely alone recently, his mind empty and numb. Though all except for one thing. One person.

You.

He hadn’t paid much attention to you or any of the servants much until just recently, and ever since he had laid eyes on you, he couldn’t stop thinking about you. Or feeling you. Feeling how much pain his love for you caused him.

So here he was, sitting on the large olive tree he had carved into a bed for his old love, coughing up petals. He swallowed, thorns poking painfully into his throat. Odysseus wiped his mouth, wiping away some blood that came with the excruciating flower. His stomach swarmed at thoughts of you, but also from pure fear of what would happen if he let this go on for any longer.

He had to deal with this soon, before it lead to death on his end.

But that meant talking to.. you.