The Goddess of Comfort Returns

Its been so long since I was last visited by the Goddess of Comfort I wasn't initially aware of her significance, which makes me - just now - wonder what else may be at play deep within my subconscious which would warrant her visit; this wasn't something in which I was expecting to unravel when I sat to write.

The Goddess of Comfort was in a "connected" family; large, rich, and with ties into industry, business, and the community. Her brother and I had started hanging out as friends, and I was quickly becoming enamored with her sister. There was a large event - wedding maybe - at the local community center and the streets were lined with all manner of expensive cars - mostly black Mercedes - and everyone was dressed in their best; men in black and white tuxedos, women in white dresses. My son was there along with his girlfriend and son, and my daughter was there with her fiancé. Things were going pretty smoothly with all the people and visiting gathered for this joyous occasion.

I was introduced at some point to the brother's cousin and we struck up a friendly conversation based on similar interests and views; he had his own entourage of friends which were a little more streetwise than the brother's connections. I was obliquely courting The Goddess of Comfort's little sister and things seemed to be going pretty well until she discovered I had initially had feelings for her sister, at which point she became inconsolable. This was a travesty because I really did like her and wanted to see where things might lead, and it was NEVER going to work out between the Goddess of Comfort and myself for a whole host of reasons, one of which was she never returned my feelings, so that was a complete non-issue.

We were sitting on a ledge which separated the grass from the sidewalk outside the community center having this discussion when I doubled-down to explain how and why things had unfolded to the point they had with our budding relationship when she apparently heard the words she needed to hear and switched gears completely; she no longer required any more justification as to why I chose her over her sister and was all for our continued courtship. I still had some key points I wanted to tell her but she wasn't interested in hearing them as they were all inconsequential. Much to my surprise, this buttoned-up, high-bred woman flashed me, then immediately hid it as it if it were by mistake, but then did it again - one at a time - until both her breasts were exposed to me. I was rather shocked by the behavior more than the location and circumstances under which all this was taking place. While my mind was processing all this, she proceeded to expose her genitals to me, which pushed me from shock to the realization she was serious about pursuing a relationship. I gave her my solemn word I would never betray her. I looked up and her brother was standing there, having just heard me. He nodded in acceptance of this union.

That's when I saw armed men moving down the street toward us in formation. Street thugs ready to start a gang war against the Goddess of Comfort's family I assumed. No one else was paying attention, but I caught the eye of my son and told him to get everyone inside (though the thought occurred to me that may be exactly what the armed men wanted). My son picked up on the gravity and immediately started trying to get everyone under cover before the shooting started while keeping everyone calm. My daughter's fiancé and I shared a look which conveyed understanding and he sprung into action getting her to safety - my kids safety taken care of, I went to secure the Goddess of Comfort's sister, who had been taken by her brother - he was getting his own men rallied to fight, but we needed to get to the cars where the firearms were kept. He and I crossed the street away from the community center, gathering men as we made our toward the direction of the armed men, but hiding behind the cars on the other side of the street as to not be noticed.

With his men now armed, and the other armed men having made their way into the community center, we followed them inside, and it was bedlam. No one knew who was on their side, who was a friend, and who was not. Thankfully due to this there was no shooting, but the confusion mixed with all the people the tension was rising quickly. I got separated from the brother and saw the cousin standing in the hallway. I made my way toward him and he expressed wanting the Goddess of Comfort protected at all costs, so I found her and we descended into the basement which was filled with high-end monochromatic suites. I double-bolted the hermetically-sealed doors and suggested we sit it out.

Given this was where we may all very well lose our lives - if that was why I have no idea - she expressed to me that she has always loved me and regretted never being able to tell me. To say I was confused would be an understatement. I mean, this obviously changed everything, most pressing the vow I'd just made to her sister in front of her brother who wasn't a man who would allow someone to go back on their word, even for his other sister's sake, and yet...there was nothing which could be done. Everything I'd told the sister was true because of how things were presented to me, and while I was still very much enamored with the sister, this new information retroactively created an unsustainable scenario of which I likely wouldn't be able to think my way free.

I don't remember if we made love right then or there, but it would've been inconsequential either way as the act itself wasn't the most powerful thing which occurred, rather the words and the truth behind them.

When time had passed, we both left the basement to see what needed to be done in the aftermath of the event which had transpired. The brother and his entourage had gone, My own kids were safe, and I was left tracking down the ne'er do well's to dismantle their reign or terror, face the betrayal I inflicted upon the sister, avoid the brother's judgement and subsequent action against me for my betrayal (which was conflicting as we were both still trying to keep the family together and rid ourselves of the rival gang) and somehow do all of this while being the liaison between the brother and cousin. It seemed no matter what I did or did not do, I managed to find myself in a no-win scenario. with no way out.