Page 30 of Orpheus
He could not take his eyes off this smoldering dancer,
Who stared back his way with the eyes of a romancer.
The two men danced together among the vast crowd.
Their feet light on the floor, as if floating on the clouds.
It was what the somber man needed to lift his spirits.
Even if he was hesitant to dance at that very minute.
But how could he turn away this earthly, magnificent creature?
Who has remarkable beauty and stunning features.
The somber man now sings a song to his own muse, much being improvised.
While gazing starstruck into his muse’s emerald green eyes.
As I finished my short song, even I was surprised by my very own lyrics. I sang based on the current emotions I had stirring within me. But even I had no idea how drawn to Eurydalos I was up until now. There was something about him that kept me wanting more. Perhaps he was easy to talk to and was fun to dance with. His presence gave me excitement, and it was exactly what I needed to escape from the turmoil I’ve had over the past several days.
Eurydalos just sat on the ledge still, not once taking his eyes off of me, likely processing all that I had just told him through my song. After a few awkward seconds of silence, he finally opened his mouth to speak. “No one has ever described me the way you have. That song. That was the greatest gift I have ever received.”
I scratched the back of my head with nervousness, embarrassed by his comment.
Eurydalos hopped down so that he was now standing directly in front of me. “No really. Thank you, so much.” He then turned to look away from me.
I picked up on a change in his demeanor. A sudden sorrowful look was displayed on his face. His eyes were watering as he attempted to hold back the tears from falling.
“What’s wrong?” I earnestly questioned his change of heart. “Did I say or do something to hurt you?” I could not help but reach to hold his hands as I asked this out of concern.
He merely shook his head. “No. It has nothing to do with you, Orpheus. It’s the current situation I’m in, is all.”
I hadn’t the slightest clue as to what he was referring to, but was eager to learn more. “And what sort of situation are you in that seems to be bothering you so?”
“It’s difficult for me to talk about. I’m not sure I have it in me to discuss it with you right now. We only just met tonight.”
Eurydalos did have a point here. However, I had thought we dropped the whole idea of hiding our feelings from one another. After all, I was practically an open book with him, not only revealing everything about Calais but also how there was something there with Eurydalos. We did have an instant connection. I would be lying to myself if I said I did not want to further explore it. I held hope for him wanting to spend more time in getting to know me as well.
“I understand. Well then, maybe if we see each other in the near future, you will be comfortable sharing more about yourself with me then.”
“In the near future? Are you saying you will be staying here in Thessaly?” he asked with a glint of hope in those incandescent eyes of his.
“If I have a reason to. I was planning on returning home to visit my family, but I am not pressed on doing that just yet. If there is something tying me here to Thessaly, then yes, I plan on staying. Would you like me to stay in Thessaly, Eurydalos?”
My hands squeezed his tighter as I asked this. He had to know of my intentions and wishes. I was so forthcoming with them just now. Hopefully, he could take the hints I’ve been sending his way.
“As much as I would love for you to stay and to be able to learn more about you, I would not want to impose. You should not have to remain in Thessaly strictly on my account. After all, you are a world-famous musician. I am but an Earth dancer. One with the field nymphs,” he added.
“But I don’t mind at all. Really, I do not have a path forward from here. No guidance on where I’ll go next. At least, right now, in this moment, I have you. And now that I met you, I don’t want to miss out on this opportunity. I feel as though I would have regret if I left Thessaly wondering what could have been between the two of us.”
Eurydalos withdrew one of his hands from mine in order to wipe his eyes with his forearm. “Then if you are determined to stay here, yes, I would love to be able to meet with you soon. Actually, whenever you want to meet with me, I will be available and willing.”
“Then why don’t we meet tomorrow? I’ll be leaving Iolcus at sunrise. Would you like to meet up with me outside the castle walls then? You can take me to where you live. I would love to see your home.”
He grinned from ear to ear with delight at my offer. “Yes. I would be happy to do that.”
As much as I wanted to lean in and kiss him right now, I knew it would be a poor decision on my part. My feelings were all over the place. I still felt slightly depressed over Calais. Meanwhile, I felt a new flame recently lit within me, now that Eurydalos was in the world.Myworld.
