"Too Trusting" by Kelsey M. Graham

‘But in the mirror of his polished shield Reflected saw Medusa…. ‘Then backward with an unerring blow he sped, And from her body lop’d at once her head…’ -Ovid, Metamorphosis

Snakes everywhere, layers upon layers of scaly, hissing serpents, blocking out the light with darting tongues and slithering bodies, drowning her in serpentine whispering darkness…
Medusa jolted out of the dream into another nightmare, reality. The snakes had followed her from her dream, were surrounding her head like dreadful, reptilian hair…. With a final surge she woke up completely, into the true horror that was her life. The snakes crawling around her head were attached to her, part of Athena’s curse. She groaned as she got to her feet, heavy belly swaying slightly. Seven months ago, a lifetime ago, she had been happy, a person, not a twisted, wrecked monster. Suitors had come from far and wide to court her. She had been beautiful then, with long, silky hair that was the envy of all her friends. Life had been a game, carefree- and careless. Because, as often happens, word got to Neptune… And he had come for her.
Her mind blanched at the memory of what had happened next. She had been so trusting, then. So willing to believe the good in people. She had thought that she was safe, that no one could hurt her. But he did, leaving her broken and violated at the gates of Athena’s shrine. Athena, the virgin goddess. With the usual cruelty and unreasonableness of the gods, she had punished Medusa, taking her beautiful hair and replacing it with snakes. Now, shunned by all her one-time friends and suitors, she had fled to this dank cave to live with her sisters… And my children, when the time comes, she thought, touching her bulging middle. Poor children, with a monster for a mother.
A loud call from the door interrupted her thoughts. “Medusa! Are you there? It’s me, Perseus!” Medusa almost wept with delighted relief. Perseus… Her old friend… She thought he’d abandoned her, just like everyone else. But how could she ever have doubted him? He must have just been busy, him in the hero business and all. But of course he wouldn't forget her, he wouldn't care what she looked like.
With a joyful cry she wrenched open the door, only to be met with brilliant light shining from a golden shield- and cold steel hissing a death song in her ears. As her headless body crumpled softly to the ground, Perseus whispered “I’m sorry, Medusa. You always were too trusting…”