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It was silent as Orpheus walked out of hell. He didn’t hear any footsteps echoing behind him, but Eurydice was following him, she had to be. Orpheus longed to turn around, to make sure she was there, that she hadn’t fallen behind, that she wasn’t hurt. But turning around meant she was doomed to Hadestown forever, and Orpheus couldn’t stand to lose Eurydice.
And yet, he looked back.
She was there. Then she was gone. He would never forget her face, the look of betrayal that had quickly turned to understanding. Her last word to him. It was his name, a broken melody. Her hand, reaching out for his. The pain in her eyes as the Underworld pulled her down.
Orpheus curled next to the hole where she once stood, his arm stretching into the darkness. He cried. The music in his mind that haunted him had gone quiet. He no longer heard the melody, the song of the Gods. Orpheus hated how the world is, how he is just the same as everyone else.
Orpheus felt Hermes’ presence appear behind him. He was saying something, but Orpheus didn’t listen.
“I- I made a promise to her,” Orpheus cried, “I promised we would stay together. And I failed her, again.”
“Orpheus,” Hermes said again.
“What?”
“Behind you,” Hermes said. Orpheus wiped his eyes with the palm of his hand and turned around. There she was, as stunning as a star.
“Eurydice?” Orpheus asked, his voice hoarse.
“Orpheus,” Eurydice said. She didn’t have any time to prepare herself as Orpheus flung himself at her. He held her tight. She held onto him with just as much strength. He started crying again, he felt her cry as well.
“It’s you,” He whispered into her shoulder.
“It’s me,” She replied. They slowly descended to the ground, neither loosening the hold on the other. They sat there for a while, eventually Eurydice pulled away. She held Orpheus’ face in her hand. He leaned into her touch. She gave a small smile as she wiped away his tears.
“How are you here?” Orpheus asked, “I turned around.”
“Mamdani was there. He convinced Hades to let me go,” Eurydice explained.
“That’s wonderful,” Orpheus said, “Who’s Mamdani?”
“That would be me,” a voice said. Orpheus looked behind Eurydice to see the personification of good in a suit standing there.
“Thank you,” Orpheus said, “Thank you so much.”
“It was nothing,” Mamdani said, “I’m glad to have been able to help.” He then turned around and walked away.
“What do we do now?” Orpheus asked.
“We go home,” She said, “Together.”
They stood up in sync. And so, with their hands clasped tightly around the other, Orpheus and Eurydice walked out of hell, together.