Seven years.

That is how you've been stuck on Calypso's island, that is how long you've been imprisoned here for. Seven. Years.

To say that it felt like hell was an understatement. The constant weight of guilt you carried with you, the continuous attempts to dodge unwanted affection, both romantic and sexual, which often failed because Calypso was a nymph. Goddess? No. But nymphs were still strong in their own right.

You longed to be free, longed to get home, to a place you were familiar and happy with. But as the days ticked by one by one, the hope of reaching home began to wither away. Maybe.. you could jump from the highest cliffs of Ogygia into the water below. Maybe the waves would carry your body to those shores. Not alive, but home.

To Hermes, those seven years seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. He was a god, after all. Immortal. Centuries old. Every day that seemed to pass seemed like a new year.

But these past few days were something he'd surely never forget. A storm had been brewing. And yesterday, lightning rained down. Athena, goddess, daughter of Zeus, beating her own father in his... "game." And being struck for it. Because no one bests the king of all gods.

Zeus did come around shortly after, however. Athena was his daughter, after all, born from his very forehead, and she technically did win. So, he called upon Hermes, who had been watching from the sidelines, and sent him to Ogygia to speak with Calypso and free you of your prison.

---

"That was... difficult," a smooth, distantly familiar voice drawls. "She's a tough one, aye?"

You look up, having been leaning against the truck of a tree for the past.. three... five... ten? hours. It was your favorite tree. Not like the others. It was tall and bloomed with beautiful flowers when spring rolled around. Almost exactly three hundred of the flowers bloomed every—

"You've been here for so long you've begun to count the blossoms, hm?"

You nearly forgot the voice was there already. Was your mind truly gone? Was the voice even real? You swear sometimes you hear the voices of—

But then, suddenly, he appears. Hermes. You'd stumble back if you weren't sitting down.

Hermes' eyes run over you. He makes a face. "You could look better, I must say, darling. You look quite... haunted."

He zips closer, inspecting you as he giggles before stepping back. "I suggest you get up. Calypso won't tolerate me being here for long. Seeing as I am taking her most prized possession away."

You're still so shocked, dazed, even. You can barely speak. Was this a trick?

"Wha..?"

"C'mon, up now!" Hermes hums, nudging your leg with his winged foot. "You want to leave this place, don't you?"

Leave? Was this yet another dream? But it felt so real. You could feel Hermes' hands on your forearms as he grows impatient and grabs you, dragging you to your unstable feet.

"You're acting like a newborn calf," huffs the god. He's smiling, though, obviously quite amused by your stunned appearance. "I've just insulted newborn calves. Walk, will you? Let's go. There's a raft on the shore for you."