A beautiful morning it was. Dew drops on petals and leaves sparkled like pearls as they basked in the morning sun. The breeze carried the sweet smell of the apple trees… and the roses. As I was taking in the beauty, I noticed a branch of an apple tree stir. I leaned against a tree smiling, for I’d seen who was hiding behind the leaves.

Eros, son of Aphrodite! What should you be called? A fool or a coward?

Surprised at being caught, he came out of his hiding.

Eros: “You do me injustice. I’m neither. Not a fool. Not a coward. Mischievous, aye!”

And cruel.

Eros: “Part of my job. Today will start with you.”

No, it won’t.

Eros: “Why not? It’s a beautiful day to fall in love.”

It may not be so once I’ve become your victim. I continued smiling.

Eros: “Ah, but this arrow has your name on it.”

I watched Eros take aim. Of course, I moved forward and took the arrow from him.

I refuse to be your victim, Eros. I broke the golden arrow covered with dove feathers. It indeed did have my name on it.

Eros: “Woe! You shall never know love!”

Nor shall I ever be blinded by it.

Eros: “Nor wise!”

It’s suffering that brings wisdom, not love.

Eros: “And pity you, it’s love that brings suffering.”

And yet you are not any wiser, dear god of love!

Eros: “You mock me.”

I tell you the truth, Eros. You might want to get a second opinion from Apollo, the god of Truth.

Eros: “Why do you mock me?”

Why did you not pity Pysche when you left her? You loved her not?

Eros: “I married her in the end. Did not I? All is well that ends well!”

You suffered, I’m sure. As much as she did. And yet, you feel no shame hunting for victims, and show no mercy wounding them with your golden arrows.

Eros: “There’s joy in pain. A sweet pleasure. Alas, you can not know!”

Love is not the only source of pain, dear Eros. But what can you know? And pray, for what are those leaden arrows you carry?

Eros: “Ah! These have owl feathers. To cause indifference, and not love.”

And there must be one with my name on it.

Eros: “There was.”

He gave me his most mischievous smile.

Eros: “There was. You’ve had the honor of being my first victim!”

He disappeared.

At least, it wasn’t the golden arrow.

I flung the golden pieces in a pond nearby.

Feathers of owls. Owl. Ah. Athena. Wisdom.

A beautiful morning it indeed was.

Edit:

Eros:
Better known as Cupid. Greek god of love. He keeps two types of arrows. Golden ones with dove feathers (for love) and leaded ones with owl feathers (for indifference).

Aphrodite:
Greek goddess of love.

Psyche:
A beautiful mortal who later becomes an immortal. Aphrodite becomes jealous of Psyche’s beauty. She sends Eros to pierce an arrow in Psyche’s heart so that she falls in love with the ugliest man. This does not happen because Eros falls for Psyche’s beauty instead. Eros leaves Psyche when she betrays his trust. In the end, they get married though.

Athena:
Greek goddess of wisdom. An owl can be seen perched on her head in most of her depictions. Some authors argue that Athena was an owl in her early days.