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Annabeth is walking by the sea, near her new home. The years have left their marks on her. She is no longer young or beautiful. She is not the femme fatale she was through the years. She remembers the days she lived in the center of Manhattan or when she lived in New Athens, the city that she had personally designed. But it didn’t matter anymore. Most of her friends were dead. This was the main reason for her sudden move to Montauk. The coffees didn’t taste the same, the weekly book club meetings were boring, New York was the city of depression for her. Tied up with all the misfortunes of her life. Nothing is the same. She felt like she was stuck on a Ferris wheel. All things have changed, and she cannot go on with her life.
Time has passed later since her husband's death. Percy was the sun in Annabeth's solar system. And she was his moon. His serene moon that he loved more than his own life. He had proven it on several occasions throughout the years. His death was so sudden. Annabeth was out for the night. But as soon as she left the theatre someone called her. He had a heart attack. The death was instantaneous, and Annabeth was without her soul mate.
She thinks all the time. That life is strange. Some people die before, and the others stay behind and cry. She was breathing the sea air and was feeling the waves reaching her feet that were covered in sand. But all she can think about is how much Percy loved being close to the sea. How much everything over there reminded her of him. Even the soft breeze that blew her hair away from her face. It was like in some bizarre way he was still there with her. She felt some tears streaming down her face. Nothing new. An hour later she entered her home. If she could call this place her home. It was too quiet. Too impersonal and faceless.
Annabeth doesn't know how to live alone. All her life she was surrounded by people and she could never stand still or in a place for a long time. A spontaneous trip was her preferred way to spend her free time. She laid down in a bed too big for her. Looking at the empty side that used to be Percy’s.
The next day, she felt different. Younger, calmer, more active. She opened the curtains of her room and entered her wardrobe. The dresses and the shoes she never really cared about, are the only remains of her youth. She didn't know why she chose to take all the clothes with her. Maybe it's her stubbornness. Or maybe her need to remember the days when she had to go to galas or go to important meetings with even more important meetings. After Percy’s passing she even gave her firm to Zoe. She just couldn’t focus enough to take on projects anymore. Putting those thoughts behind, she wore a t-shirt and simple pants with a pair sneakers.
She stood in front of her house. A familiar black car stopped there. Three little children running towards her. "Nana! Nana! Look at my drawing!" Amelia, her granddaughter said excitedly.
"Hi Nana!" Addie greeted her and Tommy her grandson looked at her lovingly.
"Hello my loves." She hugged her grandchildren. Charlie walked out of the car. He looked so much like Percy. Same hair, eyes, mannerisms, posture, and embrace. It almost hurt a little bit looking at him.
"How are you?" He asked her.
"I’m good. Don't worry about me.” She reassured him.
"Is Zoe coming?" Charlie questioned.
"Yes, will you stay for lunch?"
"Of course."
"Nana, can we stay with you tonight?" Amelia asked her with her big blue eyes looking at her wondering.
"Yes, if your parents don't have a problem." Annabeth looks at them maliciously.
"Why not." Bianca declared then that they all went inside.
Amelia, Addie, and Tommy went to the garden laughing. Annabeth missed the feeling of pure laughter. She hadn’t felt purely happy in an awfully long time.
30 minutes later, Zoe arrived with her partner and her kids. Zoe loved her father more than Annabeth. But she had no problem or hard feelings about it. She loved watching the two of them playing when Zoe was little. At these moments a different Percy was out for the world to see. The one that wasn’t affected by the wars he fought or the monsters he slayed. Seeing him become a father was one of the greatest gifts of her life.
They all sat in the living room before lunch. Although they were having fun, an uncomfortable atmosphere was everywhere.
"Did you find Dad's pen?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Charlie!" Zoe said furiously.
"What? I just asked a question.”
"No, I haven’t found Riptide yet. Maybe he hid it somewhere. I moved twice but the pen is nowhere. Or maybe it has found its next holder." That last bit pained her more than anyone could imagine. Percy’s sword being in another person’s possession. Another young hero who will die before their time.
“It’s a shame. I remember showing it to us all the time.”
Remember?
That word haunted Annabeth. That's all that remained of Percy. Memories. A part of her still believes that the door will open, and that Percy will be with them. That everything will be as before. But that thought is childish and naïve.
"I miss him." Zoe confessed.
"Me too, love." Annabeth said.
Annabeth wasn't sure how to feel after his sudden passing. They had been best friends since they were twelve and, now he was just gone?
Her children were there for her. All the time. Someone had to be with her in the house all the time. What did they expect? That she was going to break and set fire to the house?
"Now that I remember, I have something to tell you. I'm going on a trip.” Annabeth announced.
"Where are you going? How long will you be gone?” Zoe asked.
"Maybe for 6 weeks. Even a little more. I haven’t booked a return ticket.” She replied.
"Mom, why are you going away for so long?"
"I am a grown woman Zoe. And I want to go on a trip to Thailand. And I'm going. I have a lot of things to think about.”
Zoe and Charlie looked at each other. Charlie cleared his throat.
"Is there a chance that you aren’t ready yet? I-" He hesitated.
“Continue this sentence and see what happens Charlie. This is not up for discussion. I have already decided that. Unless you want to call Theo from Zurich and Lana Malibu so they can also give you their opinion on the matter.” Annabeth said strictly. Charlie and Zoe remained silent.
"I think you should go Annabeth. This will be a good opportunity for you to relax.” Bianca said with a calm, soothing smile on her face. Annabeth has always loved the fact that her daughter-in-law was the voice of reason in her family.
"What are you talking about Bianca!" Zoe complained.
"It's her way of grieving. If she wants to go to Asia and immerse herself in the culture, so what? Who are we to judge?”
"What if something happens there?" Zoe said and turned to Annabeth. "What if you decide you don't want to come back?"
"Honey, I would never do that to you. I don't know. I always thought I would be the one to die first.” It was something Annabeth really believed. Something she secretly wished for.
She still remembers that day at the beach almost 45 years ago. "I can't come into terms with the fact that I’ll never see him again in my life. It’s been six months already.”
It was mid-January on the same beach as her new home. But back then everything was different. It wasn't one of their happy dates. She thought they only had a month left to live. Times were so different. She was the one talking about death, but he died first.
Annabeth and Percy were lying on a blanket with the wind blowing sand on their faces and the waves becoming more violent over time. They were just friends at the time.
"It’s freezing. I don't even know why we're here." Percy complained.
"We are here because I am dying." She said in a serious tone. "And I thought you liked the beach."
She knew he didn't have the courage to talk to her. "Don't say that. You are not dying. I am not dying yet. And I love the beach when there is sun and happiness. With all that is happening, I don’t know how to feel.” From his look, she could tell that he was drowning. “Do you really feel like you’re going to die?”
"I'm not sure." She was looking at the horizon. "All I'm sure of is that none of our plans has worked and everyone pushes me to work harder and to figure it out."
"I have a sixth sense, you know," Percy said when he turned to her. Every time he looked at her, she felt her heart beating faster. Even when she didn't know it was love. "And I know everything will be fine. The two of us. We will always be close to each other, and we will always go through things like this together. I will never leave you alone. Do the same for me. You promise me?”
"I promise." She smiled.
45 years passed but she was right where he left her.
"I promise you I will come back. I am not a young woman. Give me three weeks away from home and I will miss you. I need a trip. Annabeth says so. I don't want this pain to be for evermore. She repeats every day when she wakes up.
Zoe and Charlie looked at her. "Okay. You deserve to turn the page.”
And at that moment she felt like all the sky lifted off her shoulders.