They teach twelve-year-olds about thirty ways to kill a monster at Camp Half-Blood and then expect a guy to just get over it when he actually has to use those skills. So what does Mr. D do when Percy brings this up? He hires training directors to teach those twelve-year-olds even more ways to kill monsters.

Percy doesn't know why he hadn't considered therapy before. Honestly, it's the first thing he should've done after being claimed by Poseidon. Even though sometimes he leaves feeling worse than he did earlier, it's good for him to dump his problems onto someone else. And who knew? It's hard to come by, but they have therapy for demigods! 

Cletus the satyr is a good therapist. He makes Percy feel validated. For example, when Percy recalled that time Annabeth broke up with him, Cletus didn't see any wrongdoing on Percy's part. Sure, it confused him even more. He still doesn't have the slightest clue why their relationship had ended, but it does make him feel better about himself.

Percy's a little low in the confidence department right now; he needs all that he can get. Just the other day when he was shopping for a tie, he bumped into a mannequin and apologized to it.

"Why don't you tell me about your day to start?" Cletus asks.

Percy takes a deep breath. "Well, I taught my class over Zoom again. It sucks, teaching classes online. I mean, I hate teaching in general, but why the heck would I sign up to teach an online class?"

"Why did you become a teacher?" Cletus asks calmly.

"Look, I didn't want to be a teacher. Actually, I got picked for this really awesome job in Florida; I would have been working up close with the sick fish. It's like fishy physical therapy."

"That's quite impressive, Percy."

Percy sits a little taller. "Thanks, Cletus. It's a bummer I couldn't go, but I'm needed up here. My stepdad Paul is running a year-round boarding school upstate now, and my little sister Estelle gets to start middle school there for free. My mom just can't make the move right now."

"You've mentioned that she's been unwell. Is she getting any better?"

"Not really. The doctors keep telling me they're expecting to see a change any day now, but I think they're just saying that to make me feel better," Percy says.

"I know I'm your therapist, Percy, but I can be your friend too. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know," Cletus says.

Percy smiles. "Thanks, Cletus. It means a lot."

"Can you tell me about something good happening right now?" Cletus often asks this question. Percy knows it's a strategy to make him appreciate good things in his life, but he feels like it's a little counterintuitive to talk about his mom's cookies like they could possibly make up for what's happening to her.

"I guess... my friends Frank and Hazel are getting married."

Cletus sits forward. "Are you going to the wedding?"

"Yeah, but I'm worried about flying with my mom. She gets sick easily, and she's kind of always been afraid to fly. Her parents died in a plane crash," Percy explains. "I'm already nervous for me and my friend Nico. Zeus doesn't like it very much when Poseidon and Hades's kids use air travel, you know."

"I see." Cletus strokes his billy goat beard.

"Oh, and that reminds me- I have to cancel our session next week since I'll be in New Rome," Percy says. He figures he'll also have to cancel his class and extend the deadline for the paper. Why would he assign a paper? He'll just have to read them. He's dyslexic for crying out loud!

"That's fine, Percy. Is there anything else you'd like to talk about before we have to go?" asks Cletus.

"Can we talk about Annabeth?" Percy doesn't know why he keeps coming back to this. He knows it's pathetic, being hung up on his ex-girlfriend, but he loved her. He still loves her. He misses her. More than anything, he wants to fix whatever it is he did wrong.

"Do you think Annabeth will be at your friends' wedding?" Cletus asks.

"Gods, I haven't even thought about that. Maybe? I'm not sure. I guess I could ask Frank. What would I even say to her?" He settles his face in his hands. Stubble scratches his palm. He'll have to shave before he leaves.

"What do you want to say to her?"

Percy considers this. "I've always wanted to know what I did wrong that made her want to break up, but I feel like I can't ask her that right off."

"Why not?" Cletus asks.

"She never liked it when I asked stupid questions." It's true. Back when they were dating, Percy thought it was cute and funny. He didn't mind being accused of being dumb. Now that he's unpacked that in therapy, he's starting to realize that might have been slightly toxic of her.

Not that he cares. He'll gladly let Annabeth call him stupid for the rest of his life if there's any chance of mending their relationship.

"Is that a stupid question?" Cletus asks.

"It feels like one," Percy says. "Whatever happened was a big enough problem for her not to go to college in New Rome with me, so shouldn't I know?"

"Do you know what she did instead of going to New Rome?" Cletus asks the same questions about Annabeth every time Percy talks about her. They never really get anywhere with this conversation. She's such a mystery.

"I don't know. She stayed at Camp Half-Blood and, like, ran training or something, but then Nico told me she moved back to California."

Percy likes to imagine what Annabeth is doing now, what her routine is like. He wonders about all of his old friends like that.

He knows that Frank and Hazel are getting married, but do they have jobs? Do they live together, or are they buying a house?

And Leo- he and Calypso have a kid now. Wait, when did they get married? Did Percy miss their wedding, or had he fallen so out of touch that he wasn't even invited?

Oh, and Annabeth. She must be thriving. Percy imagines her working at an architecture firm, living out her dream. She's always wanted to build something permanent. There were probably about a million permanent buildings with her name on them now.

Percy feels awful. These were his best friends. They'd tried to stay in touch; they'd even had monthly reunions. Hazel and Frank would shadow travel across the country with Nico to visit, and sometimes they would bring Reyna. Wow, and to think that Jason's death had put an end to all of that. It should have brought them even closer, but it didn't.

"Why didn't you visit her at camp?" Cletus hasn't asked that question before.

"I guess... I wanted to give her some space?" Percy doesn't know.

"Before you go..." Cletus tears out a page from his notebook and gives it to Percy. "Try this. It's an herb remedy that calms nerves. It sounds like everyone you're traveling with might need some."

"Thank you, Cletus."

"Enjoy the wedding, Percy."