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He won’t let any harm come to me. He loves me. He said as much last night at the ball.
So, what am I afraid of?
Teo is waiting for me. He’s waiting.
With that encouraging thought in my head, I muster up all my courage and decide to go in. But just as I’m about to enter the forest, Atlas comes from behind and grabs me by the wrist, halting my step.
“Atlas, let go.”
“No.” He shakes his head adamantly. “Don’t go. Let’s turn back,” he says, true fear in his light blue eyes.
“But what about Teo?” I ask him with a soft smile. “We can’t just leave our friend, Atlas. That’s not what friends do.”
Atlas frowns at my explanation, seeming not entirely convinced by it.
I try to unlatch his fingers off my wrist, which shouldn’t be a hard task for me to accomplish, since Atlas has always been so frail. But somehow, he’s garnished whatever strength he has to keep his hold steady on me. So much so that I’m positive he’s going to leave a bruise.
“Atlas, you’re hurting me.”
It’s all he needs to hear to unleash his fierce grip. Unfortunately, he takes two steps in front of me to stand in my way, blocking me from my goal.
“Don’t go after Teo. You don’t know what monsters live amongst the forest.”
“That’s just an old wives’ tale.” I smile. “You think my momma didn’t tell me the stories about how beasts roam the cold snow and need the blood of the innocent to feast on to keep warm too? She did, but you and I both know it’s all nonsense. We’re no longer little kids, Atlas. We can’t let our parents keep us afraid. We can’t let others keep us small.”
I chew on my lower lip as I watch Atlas begin to hesitate at my words. I knew before I even said them that they would cause an impression. It’s no secret that Atlas is always trying to prove how brave he is, trying to surpass his illness by showing the world that he is just as courageous as the rest of us. But deep down, I know he’s a lot like me. Always afraid that people will see that truth. That we are weak because we are vulnerable. Him for his illness and me for being born a girl. Both traits that will do our kingdoms no good in the long run.
That’s why he’s probably my best friend between the three boys.
He understands what it feels like to be underestimated. Perceived to not hold any actual worth.
My throat begins to run dry when Atlas refuses to back down, the flash of a true king in the making coming out.
“If you go in there, Teo won’t protect you,” he says with such certainty I almost catch myself believing him.
“You don’t know that,” I reprimand. “And frankly, you shouldn’t say things like that about your friend. It’s disloyal.”
“Don’t talk to me about loyalty,” he spews angrily.
What has gotten into him?
Where is my sweet friend who always has my back no matter what?
“I don’t know why you are acting this way,” I reply, just as infuriated as he seems to be, “but I’m going in, with or without you. Are you coming or not?”
He shakes his head.
“Fine, then step out of my way.”
When I see that he won’t budge, I use all my strength and make him.
A pang of shame pierces my heart with the way Atlas’s clear bright eyes dim, looking saddened that I pushed him. Unable to see such disappointment in his eyes, I head toward the forest like I intended, only to stop when I hear him mumble under his breath behind me.
“Hope his kisses are worth it.”
My cheeks instantly flush crimson at his accusation. I turn around to confront him yet again, but Atlas is already gone, rushing back to the safety of my castle’s walls.
Damn the gods.
