Sylph and Aurora sat together by the shore, gazing out at the turquoise sea, where pods of dolphins danced and dived in beautiful synchronicity. The baby laid between them, wrapped in a delicate lace shawl, sleeping the sleep of the angels while the two women shared their news. Nearby, Tom was showing the locksmith the fishing boat he had made, their voices mingling together in harmony with the sea’s constant silvery tune.
“And you’re happy here, with Tom?” Sylph asked.
“I am,” Aurora answered simply. “You doubted it?”
Sylph pressed on, driven by a mother’s concern. “I had worried a little that Epimetheus might not have been forgotten.”
“Epiglottis?” Aurora’s tone was vague and disinterested. “Was that a childhood friend of mine? Sorry, I don’t remember the name, Mother.” Ever attentive to her daughter’s needs, she leaned forward to brush ocean spray from the baby’s cheek, shining under a sunbeam. Her contented smile told Sylph all she needed to know.
“No matter,” Sylph said, reaching out to touch her granddaughter’s soft curls, marvelling at her perfection.
***
Pandora stared down from her window, captured briefly by the sight of her two small sons crawling around on a patch of grass below.
An elderly maid followed them diligently, perfectly aware of Pandora’s intense gaze. Yet, she could not prevent the younger, black-haired twin from grasping his blonde-haired brother’s foot, biting his toes with gummy force. The older twin wailed in fury, kicking his brother’s head with his spare foot. The maid berated them both, pulling them apart, but only moments later, the boys were ready to attack again.
Pandora smiled grimly. Both boys were proving to be determined warriors, and she was proud to have spawned such competitive characters. A faint whisper in her memory warned of future strife one day. A heavy foreboding told her that one boy would seek to outdo the other one day, perhaps even fighting to their death, but this was so far off in the future, she brushed aside her concern.
She left her vantage point in the window, returning to touch her beautiful box, as she did so often these days. The locks were broken, never to close again. The box juddered under her chilled fingers, whispering continuously. Pandora lay on her bed, empty of emotion, exhausted with the world, closing her eyes and heart to outside concerns.
***
The evils released from the box cast a long shadow over the world. Yet, the tiny creature, Hope, remained, dissipating strife and distress, calming the raging tempests disrupting human lives.
At times, Hope was so squashed by the weight of evil that she seemed to shrink, almost to disappear. Yet, the truth was that at such moments, she escaped to the land over the rainbow, spending her time playing with Aurora’s growing family, regaining her strength. When the world had need of her, Hope always returned, spreading lightness and laughter through the gloom.
10/4/2026
Hmmm. Okay, I liked that Aurora had no memory of Epimetheus (hahaha - epiglottis!) and could focus on Tom and their baby. No one needs thoughts of "the one that got away." Besides, he was married - albeit to a horror of a woman. (I did worry, though, that she would spot him and re-kindle their love when mention was made of the dolphins swimming by right after Epimetheus and Hope were riding them at the end of the previous chapter.) The whole Pandora part, though, I had to read through more than twice, and I still didn't feel as if I completely understood how such a change had come about, what with the broken-locked box still there and even still chuddering (btw, I still love that word...) I felt like I missed something in a previous chapter or something. How did Pandora stop festering about Aurora so much that she'd go and visit her and the baby? How was she even able to go to the other side of the rainbow? I thought Aurora was taken there by the locksmith because that's where she'd never be found by Pandora and could remain safe. So, I guess I needed more of an explanation of how that came to be. (or, if I missed something along the way, please tell me where - and my apologies for having not read thoroughly.) Overall, though, such a tremendous undertaking! I will sorely miss reading the new chapters you supplied each week. But, all good things must come to an end. Thank you, Rachel, for this tremendous achievement. xoxoxo