they say he died of drowning because the wax of his wings melted.
but that isn't true.
he died from the cold.
the ice gripped and clawed at his wings
weighing them down
down
down
until he hit the water.
until he was encased in the icy waves of salt.
until his limbs curled into themselves and froze.
until he spoke no more and there was ice covering him
he could have been saved.
had his father looked for him
had the gods looked upon the earth
had he heeded his father's warning
had the fates given him a less cruel destiny
but none of that happened. and so he died.
but not in a fiery, drowning death.
but in winter's cold embrace