Things I Need to Fix • • • McKenzie Taylor

Stupidly, I wasted my beauty attending your temple. I kept my “purity” in your image. I was obsessed. Even when I was little, playing in the garden with my sisters, I would be Athena, and they would be the demons and villains I’d slay. Their gorgon scales and tails contrasting to my human, olive, plump, skin.

Euryale thinks it’s a good thing, what you’ve done to me.

“You finally look like part of the family,” she says “I knew you’d grow into your looks,” she says “You’ve got mom’s scales.”

She’s just being nice. She’s only saying that to make me feel better about this wretched curse.

Anyway, how are you?

Sylvia wants me to ask if your owl’s still alive? And if so, can she eat it? She’s the one I told you about last time, constantly ripping birds out of the sky and attacking hares on the ground. When she sees a squirrel she practically drags me after it.

I have to say I’m more than a little thrilled that your devotees have fallen out of fashion. How’s it feel to be forgotten about, left to rot up in that palace in the sky. I hope you finally understand what it’s like to be me.

I spent my whole human existence trying to get closer to you. Who knew all it would take is my violation in your temple for you to notice me? Years of devotion and not a peep from you. But as soon as he raped me you deigned to come down from your throne. Not only to meet me, but blame me, curse me, and leave me. You left me cold and empty on that stone floor, while he vanished into the waves.

The first few years were the worst. The men kept coming to me, still drawn by my appearance. But not in the way they once were. Gods, they got annoying. All I wanted was a few years peace, but no. Every upand-comer had to take their shot at the heinous beast. Medusa, the ultimate prize; bring back her head and win eternal glory.

It’s funny though, when Perseus came, he used a shining shield; I could have sworn I’d seen it before. It looked a hell of a lot like yours. But that’s not true, is it? You wouldn’t curse me with this pitiful existence and then take it from me? He must have stolen it. You’re just a god. You don’t understand what it’s like to be human. And you certainly don’t understand what it’s like to be a monster. I can’t blame you for blaming me instead of Poseidon. After all, he’s a god, one of the big ones. You guys could never do anything wrong. Right?

Yours Truly, M