Epimetheus stared out into the distance, marvelling at the double rainbow now arching away from the woods across the deep grey sky to the distant horizon. A crow flew towards him, screeching loudly. It landed on the turret wall, bobbing up and down, its bright eyes flashing.
“Ah, my friend,” said Epimetheus, reaching out eagerly to stroke the bird’s steely feathers. “Did all go well? Is Aurora safe?”
The crow flew into the sky, cawing, swooping and then flying into the rainbow arc, disappearing from view.
Epimetheus trembled, certain that something magical and marvellous had just happened in the world as Hope traced her delicate fingers over his bare skin.
He sprang up and peered over the side of the tower. Although it was still too high to even contemplate jumping, he began to puzzle ways to get down, absently stroking his bearded stubble whilst contemplating the problem.
Suddenly, an old tale came to mind, of a young girl trapped in a tower, growing her hair so long that a prince could climb up her golden plait and rescue her.
No-one’s coming to rescue me, thought Epimetheus, running his fingers through his own blonde thatch of hair, but if I grow my hair long enough, I could use it as a rope. I could escape and find Aurora.
“I’m coming, Aurora!” he shouted to the wind. The air considered his words, whirled them into a small cloud and hid them amidst raindrops.
***
Pandora prowled back and forth through her chamber, her nails biting into her hands and her teeth grinding with fury.
“Where is that stupid beast?” she cried. “He should have returned by now.”
The box grumbled, spitting out words of bitterness and bile: “Betrayal, treachery, wickedness.”
Once more, Pandora gripped the sides of the broken mirror, her reflection gazing back at her, a drained and haunted visage.
“Tell me, Mirror, show me what you will,
Did my servant achieve his kill?
Will Aurora haunt me still more?
Tell what happened: I must be sure!”
There was a silence, then the mirror cracked one final time, its frame falling to the floor with a thunderous crash.
“Oh powerful Queen, there is no more to say,
Only this: Aurora is no longer in your way,
That chapter is over; the poison is all gone,
Your queendom is safe, and life will go on.”
Pandora raised her head to the heavens and cried out thanks to the gods above. Then she clutched her stomach, doubling over with discomfort as two small souls battled for supremacy in her womb.
***
Sustained only by nuts, seeds and berries dropped at his feet by the crows, Epimetheus grew thin, his face gaunt with hunger and sorrow, his eyes cloudy and his blood weakened. Yet Hope breathed whispers of encouragement on the breeze as he battled with feelings of despair and regret. Escape is possible, she promised.
A month passed, and Epimetheus’s hair grew down to his shoulders. A six-month passed and his hair was trailing on the stone floor. After a year, his hair was so long that he was able to tie it to a turret and climb down it as if descending a golden rope. He tugged hard and the hair broke, leaving strands waving from the tower above, as if announcing a victory.
Epimetheus fell to the ground, kissing it with humility and gratitude. Then he stood, imbued with new strength and set off like a homing dove to the cottage hidden deep in the woods.
10/4/2026
The Words That Got to Me
A month passed, and Epimetheus’s hair grew down to his shoulders. A six-month passed and his hair was trailing on the stone floor. After a year, his hair was so long that he was able to tie it to a turret and climb down it as if descending a golden rope. *Why can't MY hair do this?!!
Clever, creative, ingenious. I would expect no less. xoxox