The Emerald Necklace

Chapter 1)

I chewed my bottom lip. Then I sat down at my table and turned on the lamp. The room was lightened in a dark orange light. It was 3 am in the morning. A Saturday. I fiddled with the key, hanging around my neck, and unlocked the drawer. I took the giant, heavy and old book out and placed it in front of me. I opened it, searching for the page where I stopped yesterday. I finally found it and smiled. The best time of the day. Was in the night, I know. But since Ive just come home anyway it doesn't really matter if Im doing it now or at day. Now was just easier. I smiled at the last paragraph, then I took my pen and began to write.

Hey.

Good Morning.

I smile. He's there. Of course he's there. He has been there every night for the last half year.

How are you?

Im very well, now knowing that Im talking to a halfway sane person.

Okay, what did he do?

Oh, he was just being himself, in all his glory, thinking it would be funny to bring his company from last night to the breakfast table.

He didn't.

He did. Father was furious while mother had to fight on whether not to laugh or smack him.

I wish I could've seen it.

I bet you would've liked it. The best of it was that this time I actually didn't have my hands in this. It was just him and his stupidity.

You see...he gets the job done all on his own.

How was your shift?

Not so bad. In two months I'll be out in the field, not just on the carrier.

I still don't think that's a good idea.

We've been through this. I am the best. And by far the youngest. They not only want me in a field-team, they need me.

Actually I am more worried about your targets

Funny, really, really funny.

I know.

But seriously, I can't wait for it. I've been working for this the past year. Now I just have to pass the final exams and then Fury gives me the clearance.

You certainly don't have to worry about your exams. As right now you are by far the best psychologist I've ever met.

And the only one.

I know...still, you are very skilled in your profession. You manage to calm me down every time and that's with you not even being here in person.

I dont know...maybe its because I've known you for so long already.

That may be true. But a good person can always trigger the good in a bad one.

Where'd you get that?

Some book...I think.

You are unbearably incorrigible.

I know. That's what Im famous for.

I would very much like to know what you look like.

Well...I can describe it to you

Hm...maybe you could draw yourself.

I can do that, yes. Would you draw yourself too?

Im not talented or good ad drawing but...wait. Ive got an idea.

I went over to my printer and printed out a photograph of myself. One of my favourites, and placed it between the pages. Then I closed the book and prayed that it would work. When I opened the page again, the photography wasn't there anymore. I blinked. Nothing. Then he wrote.

How did you do that?

Um...I printed a picture of me out and placed it between the pages. Then I just closed the book.

Amazing. Wait...my drawing is nearly finished.

A moment later a piece of paper laid between the pages. I looked at it. This was him. He had a strong jawline, well defined lips and a wonderful spark in his eyes. His short, dark hair was neatly combed back. He was a good artist. The drawing looked so real, and yet it was just coal on a piece of old looking paper. I took the painting out and saw that he had written something.

Dear Davina, may I say that you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

Speechless I stared at the paper.

Um...thanks, you are rather handsome as well.

It is good to know what the other one looks like, isn't it. Now I can imagine how it must look when you shake your head at my pranks.

And I know how you look right now, smirking yourself to death.

Wow, youve got me there.

I smiled.

And now you smile and think about whether or not to write I know.

Stop analysing me. That is my job. Im the psychology-student, not you.

I've learned from the best, so to say.

Come on

From this day on, we would exchange pieces of our different little worlds. Nearly everyday he would send me some pressed flowers in all colours you can imagine, I would send him pictures, prints of animals or poems that I printed out, soon realizing that he was a big fan of poetry. Then, for his birthday, I sent him Hamlet, ten pages at a time until he had the whole book. He described my idea as the best present in years. So I continued to send him Shakespeare, a chapter or so per week. When I ran out of Shakespeare I switched between Oscar Wild, some poems and songs written by Tolkien and works of Edgar Allan Poe, which he liked just as much. The week of the final tests was also the week when I, on Wednesday, would turn 20. When I got up on that day, the book already laid open on my desk. I must have forgotten to close and put it away overnight, so I went to my desk and saw that he had written me something.

Dear Davina! I wish you all the best and tons of luck (although Im pretty sure that you wont need it). A little birthday present for you is on the next page. I hope you like it. If you like you can wear it as talisman. All the best and don't you get too nervous.

I turned the page and gasped at what I saw. On a thin silver chain hung a magnificent grand tear shaped emerald, that was sparkling in the morning sun, which fell through the window onto the desk. Slowly I lifted it up from the paper. I couldn't guess its value. The stone was clear and perfectly shaped and when I finally snapped out of the moment when I got lost in the wonderful green, I closed it around my neck. The feeling of the cold stone pressing against me chest was wonderful. It fit perfectly. I was so in awe about this present that I immediately sat down and wrote my thanks to him, not noticing that I was writing nearly a whole page. Energized as never before and super confident, I went out of the house.

And that was the last time I ever heard from him. There was no answer ever again. I didn't even knew his name. The pages remained empty.