Lion Head Mesa milkweed

she felt grim.

darkened further by the words of the hem, but these were the things she needed to hear. even if they caused her heavy eyes to close for a long moment.

not caring anymore if he could not gaze upon her. perhaps there was comfort in her not being seen fully in these vulnerable moments.

my mother passed not so long ago, hem. they mourned and mourned. she was the first queen of akashingo. i am the image in her wake and yet i feel so far from her now.

her heart hurt worse now.

still i have learned my lessons of royalty, even already completed an emissary task to a military outpost. pharaoh says i have done more than of all his children — more than crown prince.

she felt far away, as if she was out there on the water, floating along.

i have the makings to carry the images of both my mother and father. to maintain the divine and flourish the lands we claim. is it immoral to wish to carry these things on? will she weigh my heart and find —

she could not speak further.