“Very dreadful,” Aida agreed. “But Zeus wasn’t done. He asked Vulcan, I mean, Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, to create Pandora as the first woman on earth. Zeus gifted her with a jar filled with all the evils of the world—a jar she was explicitly told never to open. Then, he offered Pandora to Epimetheus. Prometheus had warned his brother not to accept gifts from the gods, but Epimetheus was so taken by Pandora’s beauty that he immediately married her. It was a test of sorts, a gift meant to bring about man’s downfall for accepting fire. However, it was also a gift that contained something else.”
Pandora’s expression was a mix of confusion and recognition. “Hope,” she said, nodding.
“Yes,” Luciano continued. “When all the evils were released into the world, hope remained inside the jar. It’s what keeps humanity going, even in the darkest times.”
Pandora sat back, processing the information. “But why are you telling me this? Why come to my house to tell me about a myth?”
“I think you might know why, even if you can’t articulate it,” Luciano said.
She only raised an eyebrow and waited for them to explain.
Aida glanced at Luciano. This was the delicate part. “Because,” she said gently, “you are not Helen. You are Pandora. Epimetheus is long gone, but you’ve been brought back. Today, you no longer house all the evils in the world. There’s also no jar. Instead, you are being used by some not-so-nice gods as the vessel that holds much of the world’s happiness. And we believe you have the power to help us, to help everyone.”
Pandora looked between Aida and Luciano, her eyes searching theirs for sincerity. The weight of their words seemed to settle on her shoulders, a burden she was suddenly compelled to bear. “This is ridiculous. How could I help you?”
Luciano tried to explain about MODA kidnapping Euphrosyne and the Collectors uploading happiness into Pandora. Aida pulled her phone out again and brought up the meander. “Hephaestus said you would recognize the key.”
Pandora took Aida’s phone and stared at the pulsing blue light. She seemed reluctant but finally said, “I do.”
Aida and Luciano waited for her to do something, but she only stared at the phone. “Do you know how to use it?”
She nodded. “But I don’t think you understand. I’m perfectly happy with my life. It might not be glamorous, but I don’t want anything to change. If I use that key,myhappiness will disappear.”
Aida opened her mouth to respond but realized Pandora might be right.
“You don’t know that,” Luciano said.
Pandora stood. She handed back the phone to Aida, then took the teacups from the table and set them on the tray. “I can’t help you. I must clean up now. It was nice to meet you both.”
“Wait,” Aida said, desperate. “The world needs you, Pandora. If you don’t help, the pandemic will get worse. More places will disappear.”
“But if I help you, I will have only misery. No, thank you. I’m quite content.” She started for the door.
“Please, stop.” Luciano went toward her and touched her on the arm.
Pandora recoiled. “You need to go.”
Aida stood and went to them. “Pandora, what if we find Euphrosyne and bring her to you? Then it won’t matter if you share the happiness with the world again. Effie will have more to give you.”
Pandora thought for a moment, then smiled. “Yes, that would work. I’d agree to that.”
“We’ll find her,” Luciano vowed.
Aida took Pandora’s hands in hers. “Please promise me one thing.”
Pandora nodded.
“Don’t tell anyone we were here, please. It would put you and us in great danger.”
“I understand.” She pulled her hands from Aida’s, then leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.
“Go with love and hope,” she said. “I still have hope, and now you have some too.”
The men were still lounging on the bench when the pair left the apartment and gave no sign that they saw Luciano or Aida. Aida sent Sophie a prayer of thanks, along with some extra information about Pandora’s situation.
They returned to the corner, intending to call for separate cabs. “Before we go, I wanted to tell you that I’m going to Rome for the lockdown. I cleared it with Fran this morning.”
Aida clapped her hands together. While she knew a lockdown would still keep them worlds apart, they would be in the same city, and knowing that helped even more hope bloom within her.
