Love & Gorgons

The light is the first thing that fades from the man’s eyes. His face contorted into a surprised expression he will surely, no doubt, hold for eternity. I watch closely as his skin slowly hardens and turns gray; solidifying to his final stone form. The gasp from his breath is the last sound he makes, that they all make before they’re turned to stone. I walk away, satisfied, once again. I, Medusa, have kept this cave free from men for the length I have been here. And I intend to keep it that way. He isn’t the first and will not be the last, that is for sure. The men always make their way here. The hero’s errand. A fool’s errand, to be sure. They want my head, to prove themselves to the God’s and to themselves, that they are worthy of titles and fortunes. I despise the mortals for their blind endeavors. They should know as soon as they wash up on my beach that death is what awaits them. Yet, they still come. They will come, willingly. I cannot wait for the day that they realize I will not be so easily overcome. I long for it actually. My soul craves peace. I make my way from the open area entrance of the cave down my many tunnels to the back area. My living quarters, so to speak. The cave is dimly lit by my lantern, keeping the air light and warm around me. I don’t have much here compared to where I was, but all things considered, I prefer this simplistic life. Helps to keep me content. I have never been one for revenge, but the days that pass seem to test me and my resolve. I close my eyes tightly to press out the urge to play flashbacks of my life before becoming this…..thing. I was once beautiful. So beautiful that even the God’s gave me notice. How naive a girl I was. They say hind sight is 20/20. “Another time….” I say aloud to myself. It helps to ground me and bring me back to the now when I have the sound sense to go with my sight sense. I walk across the room and sit at the edge of my bed. The springs screech under my weight and the mattress makes a crunching noise. These noises would most definitely annoy any other person, but for me, they soothe me. These are the sounds of my solitude. Most would say loneliness, and most would be right. But who could ever love a monster? Who could love a monster that, with one look, the observer turns to stone? There is no love for me in this cruel world. I am slowly making peace with that, but this old mortal heart still has the one thing in it that will most surely be my downfall; hope. There isn’t much to do with my days when there aren’t heroes to deal with. I tidy the caves and ensure I am healthy. Being on an island, my diet mostly consists of fish and other ocean creatures. Sometimes the odd food will wash up on my shores from the nearby village across the sea. Along with garbage. I hate it when I see that. As a girl, I was raised to respect the environment. You get back what you give to it. I believed and still believe this to be true, wholeheartedly. Some days, my afternoons consist of removing garbage and other unwanted debris from the shores of the beach. This is my home, and I intend to keep it as beautiful as I found it all those years ago. I allow my mind to wander as I sit in the peaceful silence of my room. It helps to gain clarity in my situation if I replay my day to day doings. What would I even do with a lover? This cave surely is not big enough for more than me. Would I really even want that? Deserve that? I slump my head down and rest my hands on my knees. I really wish that I could just turn off my feelings and hopes of a companion rescuing me from this life. Try as I might, that little flicker of hope will not smother. Believe me, I have tried over the years. I lift my head and shake those pesky negative thoughts away. “That’s enough of that!” I get up from the bed and walk my way over to grab myself some water. I need to soothe my throat. Why does being so deep in my thoughts make me so thirsty? Maybe I’ll read a book. It has been awhile since I’ve allowed myself to just be. The threat of having your head cut from your body loudly looms over your being. Unfortunately. I loved to read as a girl. I should start slowly and work myself back into it. I remind myself to be mindful of my surroundings. I cannot risk being engulfed in these pages and let a hero slip through to dispose of me. I have survived too long to be taken out so easily. I refuse. I grab the romance novel off the shelf and take a big swig of my water before setting down the glass and heading back towards my bed. I fluff my pillows up so that I can rest my neck comfortably. Once I am settled, I open the book and start reading. I love the world these books take me to. It is full of love and life. Joy and sorrow. Pain and pleasure. Soothing to the soul. I let these words take me to this place, but not fully. Not yet. Maybe one day when I know I am well and truly safe, will I allow myself to fully be immersed in these pages. I hope for my sake that that day is soon.