Epander III

Well everyone, I've just now finished the first chapter, which means that the first eleven, and hopefully the first third of the book, are absolutely complete (minus editing).  Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, I do a lot of self-editing while I write, so hopefully that whole process shouldn't take too terribly long.  I've also made a spreadsheet wherein I record how much I write.  I'll probably devote an entire post to just that.  I'm sure that everyone is waiting with bated breath just for that!

He could do as naught but to simply smile back at her lovely face. She was absolutely correct, and there was nothing that he could say to refute this which would adequately placate these emotions which she presented to him. They were verses of sorrow, but edged with an iota of resentment; how could he be so selfish, how could he be so cruel. They’d already had the arguments, but that time was passed. Now was not for such things, but only to share in the beauty of their homeland, and the grace of each other’s company. He opened his mouth ever so slightly, leaving it faintly agape, but he knew better, that his words could do nothing. Anything that could be said had already been said time and again.

Instead, he said nothing. Perhaps he should have said something, done something, but he did nothing. He rolled more fully back onto his back and gazed up into the sky, into the heavens, in pursuit of whatever answers may be conveyed down unto him. They said nothing, just as any other time which he stared into the sky, sought divine guidance. Clearly the gods were indifferent to the suffering of man, for why else should they subject him to endure it as he may? To suffer is essential to the human condition, for to suffer is essential to progress as a human, but why must the gods sit idly by against the suffering which so easily could be avoided, rather than the suffering that man inflicts upon himself?

He turned once more to face her and to look upon her face, look into her eyes. She had waited patiently for him, pain still wracking her expression. She was a dutiful wife, she was a loving companion; he could ask for nothing more than what she was able to afford him. That’s why this was so trying for him, for them, but further attested how necessary this was. He must leave. He must leave her. He must abandon everything he knew.