Echo

“Did you hear about the sapphire in the museum being stolen?” Miss Evelyn was curious. She was an interesting, peculiar character- quite young, with dull blue eyes that seemed to be looking through you, observing your soul. Her stare was rather unsettling. She had long nails that were painted bright orange and clashed with the colour of the armchair she was reclining on. The woman was facing a young girl who was sitting stiffly on another purple armchair and went by the name ‘Echo’.

“Stolen?” Echo asked, astonished. She owned warm, brown eyes and her long, faultless hair was braided over one shoulder. The girl was wearing a white chiton that went down to her ankles.

“Yes, I believe so. It was worth millions!” Miss Evelyn explained.

“Millions,” Echo mused.

“Mhm. The police are still after the thief. Do you reckon they’ll ever catch him?” Miss Evelyn wondered, helping herself to another cookie from the fragile glass bowl which stood on the little table between her and Echo. She twisted the treat in her long, delicate fingers and then popped it in her mouth.

“Him?” Echo repeated.

“Ah, you’re quite right. Maybe the thief was a woman.” There was a glint in Miss Evelyn’s eyes as she said this, “Now, would you care for some more tea? Or would you prefer coffee?”

“Coffee,” Echo said sadly. She had no other choice.

“I thought you’d say that,” Miss Evelyn smiled like she was remembering an old joke, “You just wait here, I’ll go and pour some for you, all right?”

“All right,” Echo agreed.

“Good girl,” Miss Evelyn said as she left the room.

“Girl,” Echo muttered unhappily.

“Oh, you’re a nymph, aren’t you?” Miss Evelyn corrected herself form the kitchen, “Forgive me.” And then there she was, re-entering the living room with a steaming mug of coffee.

“Give me,” the nymph said rudely, but there was nothing she could do about it.

“Don’t you ever say please?” Miss Evelyn asked sternly.

“Please,” replied Echo and sipped her drink.

The two sat in silence for a while.

Finally Miss Evelyn spoke, “As I said, the gem must be worth a fortune. It is so rare and beautiful.”

Echo, who had been lost in her thoughts, looked up. She saw the woman holding up and admiring a sapphire.

The nymph wasn’t able to protest or shout; she couldn’t call Miss Evelyn a thief.

Instead she could only gasp, repeating Miss Evelyn's last word, “Beautiful…”