How would you feel if the most beautiful woman at the party turned out to be the god of war?

When I'd gone to sleep, I was still the man who could have had anyone- the man who could have been anyone.<br><br>The future was endless.<br>A blank canvas, ready for painting.<br>A wide open door, full of endless possibilities.<br>A blank sheet of paper, waiting for the final draft.<br><br>When I'd gone to sleep, I was a god.<br>And my name was known in every corner of the world. <br>Everyone knew me.<br>Everyone loved me.<br>Everyone wanted me.<br><br>The most beautiful woman at the party had been- well. <br>Everyone knew her, Everyone loved her, Everyone wanted her. <br>But nobody knew who she was.<br>Everyone saw her.<br>But nobody saw past the surface.<br>Nobody noticed the sadness in her eyes, the scars on her lips, the few grey hairs peeking through her curls. <br>But I saw them.<br>I'd seen them all- every last one of them. <br>But I didn't want to leave.<br>I didn't want to go.<br>I didn't want to be the man I used to be. <br>I wanted to be me. <br>And I wanted to know her. <br><br>Her- the most beautiful woman at the party.<br><br>"I know you." She said, turning and smiling at me. <br>"I know you too." I replied, taking a sip of my drink- a drink I didn't need. <br>It was a gesture, it was reflex- a thing I'd grown so used to doing I didn't know how to stop. <br>But she noticed it. <br>"What's your name?" She asked, her voice husky and low. <br>"Why do you want to know?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. <br>"Because I want to know." She replied, shrugging. <br><br>We spoke for hours. <br>We spoke for days. <br>We spoke for months. <br>And in all that time, I never told her my name. <br>And when the night was over, and the party was done- I walked her home. <br>And I held her hand. <br>And I felt things I'd never felt- things I didn't recognize, things I'd never given a thought to. <br><br>Things like regret.<br>Things like fear.<br>Things like happiness.<br>Things like love.<br><br>And when I turned- and I walked away- I knew that if I ever went back, I'd never be able to leave. <br>I'd never be able to go home. <br>I'd never be able to be the man I used to be. <br>And when I turned- and I walked away- I felt her hand on my shoulder and I heard her voice in my ear. <br>"You're a long, long way from home." She said.<br><br>I turned, and I looked at her. <br>"How do you know where I'm from?" I asked.<br><br>"I know everything." She replied.<br><br>My heart pounded.<br>My stomach dropped. <br>I felt my hand tremble. <br>I wondered if I should run.<br>I wondered if I should fight.<br>I wondered what would happen if I died. <br>I wondered who she was- what she was. <br>Was she a witch?<br>Was she a goddess?<br>And what would happen if I pissed her off?<br><br>I swallowed.<br>I forced myself to stay calm. <br>And I asked her "How do you know who I am?"<br><br>"You're the man of my dreams." She replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief- her voice husky- her smile full of secrets. <br>I swallowed again.<br><br>"You're- you're not serious." I said, trying to sound calm- trying to sound collected. <br>"I'm always serious." She replied, her voice low and husky- her tone dangerous- her eyes glinting with secrets.<br><br>"Who are you?" I asked, and I felt my voice tremble. <br>I felt my heart pound- my stomach drop. <br>But I stood my ground. <br>I forced myself to stay calm- to not run- to not fight. <br><br>And she smiled. <br>She smiled at me, and her smile was full of secrets. <br>"I'm not the most beautiful woman at the party." She said, her voice husky and low. <br><br>"But you are." I protested.<br><br>"Oh." She said, her voice full of amusement. <br>"I know."<br><br>"But who are you- really?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. <br><br>"Oh." She said, her voice barely above a whisper. <br>"I'm the god of war."