I twiddle the metallic heart-shaped clamp and place it in my pocket, a smile on my face as I go about my job, ferrying souls to their afterlife. I never hated my job, it can be heavy at times, but knowing Love will be back in my arms, I find even more compassion in what I do as I collect the soul crossing the veil to the afterlife.
Iwake up alone and a sense of sadness falls over me.
Did he really just leave? No goodbye, no thanks for the transcendent sex that will haunt me for the rest of the sexual encounters I have in my very long existence?
I thought when he looked at me last night he was having the same thoughts I was. Even in his dark gaze, I could have sworn I saw hearts in the reaper’s eyes.
I’m so fucking stupid.
Why am I like this? I love the idea of love so much that I fall too hard, too fast, and it’s always unrequited. Eros loved himself too much and Death… I don’t know what Death wanted from me, just my body?
My eyes sting, and a glittery silver teardrop falls down my eye. I wipe it away angrily and turn the lamp on by the side of my bed. The unused butt plug mocks me, the heart-shaped gem at the end glinting at me with distaste. There’s only one nipple clamp on the nightstand and I curse. It probably got tossed somewhere around the room last night.
Great, the reaper ditched me and I have a missing nipple clamp in this room. I have too many fucking pillows on my bed, I’ll never find it.
I should have said something. Maybe if I said that he caused butterflies to flap around in my stomach, and that I like his company, he would know where I stood and he wouldn’t have brought me back here—he wouldn’t have made me like him more.
I’m such a stupid fucking cupid.
Of course, a reaper wouldn’t want to settle down with a frantic cupid who never shuts up. I just wish… well, I just wish he would have said something to me instead of sneaking out in the middle of the night.
Maybe if I prepared myself for a one-night stand, I wouldn’t feel so torn up. That’s a lie, my dumb heart was invested way before we got to that party. How could I get my signals so screwed up? The way he kissed me, the way he devoured me, that isn’t normal for just a casual encounter.
My bright golden heart award glistens on my dresser, and I sigh. It’s like emotional whiplash, last night being one of the best in my existence, to now feeling lower than low.
How can I constantly be so wrong about men? I’m supposed to be a fucking cupid for Christ’s sake. I should be able to spot my own match a mile away. I thought that maybe Death could have been that for me. Cupids love bringing up how opposites attract all the time, most of our job is bringing them together.
But yet, here I am, alone. This Love New Year is starting off really shitty.
It gets even worse as a pink letter pops open right in front of me.
Oh, fuck. A summons, and not the kind I wanted.
Dear Love,
You have been formally summoned to the board of directors office to discuss current behaviors and to discuss your performance as a cupid. You are expected at the High Cupid’s office in forty minutes.
Thank you,
Secretary to High Cupid,Cupio, Ladybird.
Awesome, spectacular. Not only am I in a spiral of self-pity, I now need to have a personal visit with the High Cupid himself, and on the Love New Year. February 15this supposed to be the day we all get to take a fucking breather, but I guess not.
I brush my hair and dress, knowing I’m walking to my demotion, if not something even more sinister.
Ladybird is a crotchety bitch of a cupid, she glares down her glasses at me like I’m dog shit she stepped in.
“High Cupid will see you now,” she drones.
I just nod my head and take a breath before stepping into his office.
“Ah, Love. Please take a seat,” Cupio asks. To be honest, he’s a great High Cupid, but nothing about this situation puts me at ease. “Congratulations on your award, it’s much deserved.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“You had an interesting choice for a date. The first non-cupid ever invited to the Valentine’s Day Ball, I’m assuming you know this caused a bit of a stir.”
“I’m sure it did, sir.”
