The Abduction of Europa

Europa never asked to be part of a myth. She was a princess of Phoenicia,

just a girl, really, picking flowers by the sea. The day was warm,

the sky harmless. No omens, no warnings, just sunlight glinting off the waves and

the laughter of maids in the grass. Then came the bull, massive, gleaming white,

with horns shaped like a crescent moon and eyes that seemed too calm, too intelligent.

She didn't know it was Zeus. She only knew that the creature knelt before her like

a gentle dog. She stroked its neck. She giggled. It nuzzled her hand.

Europa, so young, so curious, climbed onto its back,