Prince Cupid and the Sun

The clearing was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers, and the trees whispered in the spring breeze. The birds chittered to one another, gossipping as birds do. Two young girls, about thirteen years old, sat in the grass, enjoying the sunny day. The taller girl was called Evelyn, or Evie to her friends. She sat with her legs crossed neatly and a book resting in the lap of her silky blue dress. Her friend, Amanda, or simply Mandy, had just finished collecting daisies to make a crown. She plopped down next to Evie and began to twist the daisies together between her dirt-covered fingers.

“What are you reading?” Mandy asked.

“This is the story of Prince Cupid. My mom gave it to me. Do you want me to read it to you?”

“Oh, yes please!” Mandy scooched closer to Evie and settled comfortably with one leg extended. Her rugged pants were stained with grass. “Go ahead, I’m ready,” she smiled.

“Okay,” Evie smiled back. “It starts like this:

Prince Cupid was once considered the most beautiful man in the world. He had enormous white wings and locks of curly golden hair. It was rumoured that his dazzling blue eyes housed the soul of the universe, and anyone who stared into them for longer than eight seconds would instantly fall in love. Many women confessed their love to him, but he rejected them all.”

“He sounds like you,” Mandy commented.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you have curly golden hair. And your eyes-” Mandy leaned closer.

“Stop,” Evie said sternly, turning away. She brushed her hair behind her ear, aware of Mandy’s eyes studying her.

Mandy backed off. “Keep reading,” she said.

Evie took a breath and continued,

“His parents, the King and Queen, desperately wanted Cupid to find a wife. One day, they organised a festival and invited the entire kingdom to attend. Cupid’s parents demanded that he socialize and dance with as many people as possible, in the hopes of him finally finding his true love. Cupid was exhausted by the end of it, and his feet ached. He had danced with a hundred suitors, but he didn’t feel a spark with any of them. He had never known what it was like to fall in love. He was beginning to feel overwhelmed. He wanted badly to be alone, even if only for a moment. As soon as he had a moment of peace, he snuck away from the party and flew into the sky.

Once in the clouds, Cupid was finally able to relax. He looked out at the pinkening sky. The sun’s rays left Cupid in awe, so he flew higher to get a better look. He burst through the highest layer of clouds and stared directly into the light. He was enamoured. He couldn’t look away. He gazed at it so long that a black spot formed and remained there even when he looked away. He laughed, and began to dance. It was at that moment, while bathed in sunlight, he finally understood. That evening, Cupid fell in love with the sun.”

“Whoa! Wait, is this a true story?” Mandy chimed.

“I don’t think so,” Evie replied. “I mean, it’s a bit silly, isn’t it? Falling in love with the sun?”

“It’s not silly,” Mandy said, reaching for another daisy from her pile. “I get it. The sun is warm and bright, and it’s always there.”

“It’s not always there,” Evie muttered bitterly.

Mandy didn’t hear. “What happens next?” she asked.

“The Prince danced above the clouds until night fell. When he drifted back down to the festival, all of the guests had already left. His parents were waiting for him, looking very displeased.

‘How do you expect to find someone to marry when you keep running away?’ the Queen sighed.

‘Oh, but I have found someone!’ Cupid said.

The King rejoiced, ‘At long last! Who is she?’

‘Father, with your permission, I’d like to marry the sun.’

The King frowned and shook his head, ‘The sun? Oh, my son is a fool… Get that ridiculous notion out of your head!’

‘But, father!’ the Prince pleaded.

‘You are a disappointment. Leave my sight at once!’

Cupid obeyed his father. He stormed off and lay in his bed, unable to fall asleep.”

Evie paused, gripping the page.

“Do you need a break?” Mandy reached for Evie’s hand.

“No, I’m fine,” Evie said, pulling away. “It’s nothing.” She turned the page and continued reading,

“One day, Prince Cupid took a long walk, enjoying the sun’s presence.

‘You’re so far away,’ he told the sun, ‘if only there was a way I could touch you.’

Eventually, he reached a large lake. Cupid looked into the water and saw the sun reflected brightly on the surface. That gave him an idea. He waded through the water until he was standing in front of the sun’s reflection. He cupped the water in his hands and leaned down to kiss the sun. When he did this, he slipped and fell forward, plunging into the water. Cupid’s wings made him heavy, and he struggled to keep his head above the surface. A beautiful lady, Guinevere, heard his calls for help and came to his aid. She jumped into the water and dragged the Prince back to the shore.

The King was furious when he heard what had happened. Cupid was locked in his room for the next three days. He was told it was for his own good. He spent his days staring out his window at the sun, only stopping when the sun set. He felt himself going mad. He didn’t like being caged. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he jumped out the window and flew into the sky.

He flew up, up, up, beyond the clouds, reaching his hand out to touch the sun. He could feel his feathers burning one by one as he drew closer to the sun. He screamed, but kept flying until finally his wings burst into flames and he came hurtling to the ground like a meteor.

He survived the crash, but he was blinded and badly burned. His wings were broken beyond repair. Cupid was never the same after that. He was filled with so much shame that he isolated himself from the world. He agreed to marry Guinevere, but he did not love her. Ultimately, the pain became too much for him, and he passed away in his sleep.

The End.”

“The End?! You mean that’s it? But it can’t end like that!” Mandy protested.

“It can, and it did. Cupid got what he deserved for being so stupid,” Evie shut the book sharply and set it down in the grass.

“Do you think the sun loved him back?” Mandy asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Evie scoffed. “That’s impossible.”

“But what if it did? That would be so sad! Watching the one you love get hurt, and you can’t do anything about it...”

“It was the sun that killed Cupid, remember?”

“The sun didn’t mean to burn him! It can’t help it. And I think it was loneliness that killed Cupid in the end.”

“You’re wrong,” Evie uttered quietly.

Mandy twisted her last two daisies together and finished her crown. “It’s done!” she exclaimed. “Here,” she reached out and gently placed the crown on Evie’s head. “Perfect.” She smiled brightly and the wind ruffled her short, dark hair. Her face seemed to glow in the sunlight, freckles sprinkled like pepper on her cheeks. Evie felt tears well up in her eyes and she began to sob.

“Please don’t cry,” Mandy’s voice was sweet with concern. “You know, in my version of the story,” Mandy said, “the sun finds a way to be human, and they live happily ever after.” She wiped Evie’s face lightly with her thumb, but the tears kept coming.

“Why are you like this?” Evie lamented angrily.

“Like what?”

Evie didn’t answer. She studied Mandy’s face, taking comfort in her warm regard. Her anger turned to solace. She smiled wearily in disbelief, snickering beneath her tears.

She took a deep breath to calm her galloping heart, “I have a secret, will you promise not to tell?” she asked quietly.

“Of course. What is it?”

“Close your eyes.”

“Okay,” Mandy obeyed.

Evie’s hands were shaking, her thoughts aflutter. She took a moment to gather her courage, then leaned forward and kissed her friend tenderly on the cheek.

Mandy gasped slightly and opened her eyes. She touched her hand to her cheek.

“Please don’t hate me,” Evie said defensively.

“I could never.”

Mandy took her hand and leaned forward, her breath hot. Evie closed her eyes. She wanted to give in. She wanted to believe in a happy ending.

Suddenly, a crow erupted from the trees, cawing loudly, startling them. The wind picked up and the daisy crown flew from Evie’s head, drifting in the breeze and landing further away.

Mandy sprang up and chased after it, “Don’t worry, I’ll get it!”

But when she turned around, Evie was gone.