Author: Costas Komborozos

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2017-09-12

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 9781976297151

The goddess weeps for me. She places the golden mask on my face as her glittering tears fall like fluttering rose petals through air that trembles with light. Her eyes are fixed upon the golden mask. The mask shines, ornamenting the grim contours of my loveless visage. Moments ago, Clytemnestra drove daggers through me. Her murderous eyes fell upon the merciless stream of blood coursing through the now-uninhabited citadel of my body. The sight of the sacrificed Iphigenia was still emblazoned on her grieving mind. My wife watched as my life flooded out me, and I slowly felt myself being swept by a dark tide into the underworld. I felt a golden world slip away, and all that is left of it is the mask that now covers my lifeless face. I was told that the mask would allow my face to remain untouched while the rest of my body decomposed. I was told that a thousand years from now, someone will remove the mask and marvel at the immortal complexion underneath. The goddess continues to weep for me as everyone else has ceased to pour wordless whispers of longing upon my empty throne. The mask blissfully seared into my flesh and began its act of preserving my features so that they would live on. Destiny wears a mask, and now it will reveal its visage to me. It removes its mask as it stands before. I am young again, but this time I am wearing the golden mask. I realize that destiny will show its face to me as my face remains hidden behind gold. Moments ago, destiny entered the throne room with a shroud. My mask allowed me to see each movement destiny made. I wonder whether things will be different now. I already know everything that will transpire in the future: the abduction of Helen, the sacrifice of Iphigenia, the siege of Troy, the death of Achilles, and my own murder at the hands of Clytemnestra. I wonder whether I can prevent my daughter from being needlessly sacrificed. I wonder whether the voices of the gods will no longer push me to the brink of madness. Now, destiny holds its mask. The moment I look into its eyes, I know that everything that happened will happen again. I am wearing the mask now because I will wear it during my funeral. It is, after all, a funeral mask. Everything will happen as before because whether destiny is masked and unmasked is of no consequence to me anymore. Death has already come, for destiny spoke it.