Finding a god is hard to do; saying goodbye is harder. 

   When I was a kid, I loved reading books about Greek mythology. I thought it was the most interesting thing in the whole world. I convinced myself that I was somehow connected to the gods. I thought I was a secret daughter of Zeus, or of a more unknown god or goddess, like Morpheus, god of sleep. I thought that if I wasn't related to one of the gods, maybe a god or goddess was at least a friend of mine. Later, I would come to realize that all those petty, childish wishes were a huge mistake.

   I met him two summers ago. He was so young and lively that even now, thinking back, I still see him the same. He was always like the sun. It made sense because he was the sun god, after all. 

   When I was seventeen years old, I met the god Apollo. The moment my life was forever altered, I was strolling down the beach. 

   Waves brushed up against my heels as I walked on the sand, feeling the small shells crush under my weight. It was sunset. The beach was the only place that felt like home at that point. I was young, and had just moved to Florida for college. I was glad to move out.

   I thought about everything that had happened the past few years. I had a sister who was our family's "trouble child." She was the one who snuck out, did dangerous things, and went against our parents' rules. She got all the attention. When I was young, I always thought she was the Zeus of the house, hurting everyone but herself.

   I was happy to get away from everything. I hadn't thought about Greek mythology in a long time, but anytime I needed comfort, it always came to mind. I was seventeen, but my imagination was still like a child's. I imagined hippocampi leaping in the waves, and Poseidon walking along the ocean floor. 

   That was when I heard him. He was humming a tune to himself. 

   I turned to see a young man about my age, with curly blonde hair. 

   "Hello." He greeted me with a big smile, which wasn't something I was used to at the time. I almost immediately loved him. I wanted to know him. 

   "Hi." Saying hi was the best, yet worst, decision of my life. 

   "I'm Apollo." I immediately thought of the god, but I didn't expect him to be the real deal.

   "I'm Julia...Nice to meet you." 

   That simple introduction was the beginning of our relationship, and when I look back on those early days, I still smile. We would meet up every now and then, and his face would light up every time he saw me. 

   I remember when we went to coffee shops, when we walked on the beach together, when we went to a trampoline park just for the fun of it. Though, most importantly, I remember when I noticed he was more than just human.

   "Jules!" Apollo yelled from behind me. 

   I turned and saw him running at me with a fat grin on his face. He seemed to be so bright. That's when I realized that when he smiled at me, everything around him shone a little brighter. The sun seemed to blaze a little hotter. The street lights would flicker on. The music from the shops would be louder. I had thought it was my imagination, but I couldn't deny it anymore.  

   I knew there was something more to him than human. I knew he was the real god Apollo. I don't know why or how I was so sure that I was right, I just knew that without a doubt, he was the god of the sun, light, music...

   It became more clear that he was a god, but even though I had wanted to know one for so long, I decided to ignore it. I would treat him how I always would. He brought happiness to my life when I was in the dark. He was my sun. He lit up everything for me. He gave me attention and he acted like he actually liked me. Before I even knew it, I had fallen deeply in love with him. My love was as deep as the pits of Tartarus. Eventually, I told him. I had known him for almost a year at that point. Before I told him of my love for him, he had to know that I knew he was a god.

   "Hey...Apollo."

   "Yes, Jules?"

   "Can we talk?" I was so nervous. I felt my heart pounding in my chest. 

   "Sure," he replied with a smile, though he knew what I was about to say.

   "I...um, well, I know you're a god. I've known for a while now, but that hasn't stopped me from falling in love with you." He blushed. His eyebrows manipulated to a sad look. 

   "I hoped this wouldn't happen." He smiled through his sadness. He leaned down and kissed my cheek. "And yeah...I knew you were in love with me. I love you too. I just wish I could be human for you." I felt a tear roll down my face. 

   "I'm so sorry, Jules, I just can't see you anymore. It's not you, it's the fact that I'm a god." I chuckled a little. 

   "It's okay. Greek myths never go the way anyone hoped," I joked. He smiled. 

   "I wish they could. Just for once, I really wish they could." 

   And with that, I never saw him again.

   Sometimes I'll take a sunset walk on the beach and look for him. It's silly, I know. If there's anything I've ever learned from Greek mythology, it's that romances between gods and humans never work out. But a girl can't help but hope. And if anything, Apollo brought light to my life when it was dark. I'll always hold on to that.