Just because no one believes she exists, does not mean that she is not real. She stands on a marble balcony in the palace on Mount Olympus. A white, flowing robe drapes her, tied with a plum sheath of cloth. She gazes out and looks down on a small, sunbaked American town. She notices a movie theater advertising the newest film, a barber shop with a red, white and blue pole, a church, shops lining a small main street, and a large brick high school with a flag dancing in the wind. Sitting by the flagpole is a girl reading a book. She is thoroughly unremarkable, but the woman on Olympus feels compelled to watch this girl, whose name she knows is Echo. 

Echo sits alone, reading and dreaming of another life. Her clothes are old and worn, but not so much that it makes her stand out. Moreover, it makes her look unremarkable and plain. The bell rings, and the students outside flood into their school, laughing and chattering. Echo slowly gathers her books and bag and follows the crowd into the school. 

Her head is down, which is why she does not notice the boy in the varsity jacket admiring himself in a pocket mirror until she runs into him and her books are scattered on the ground. He is tall, tanned, and built like a football player. In his chiseled visage are two disdainful, cobalt blue eyes. Echo is awe-struck. She thinks that he must be the most beautiful thing that she has ever seen.

"My bad. Are you okay?" he asks bending down to where she sits picking up her books

"Are you okay?" she repeats, before she can help herself.

"Yeah," he responds, a touch of confusion in his voice. "Need help with your books?" 

"Need help with your books?" She repeats.

He slowly stands, running his hand through his perfect hair. There is bewilderment and pity in his elegant face as he surveys her, but she does not notice.

"Come on already, Narcissus." His friend calls out, "She isn't worth your time." 

Narcissus turns and follows his friends without sparing the girl on the floor another glance.

Echo sits unmoving. She can't get him off her mind. I don't think I've ever been so in love, she thinks. I didn't even know I could be so in love! Echo pictures his face. She runs every detail of him over in her mind, savoring the image. She feels lightheaded and giddy. I must find him. She thinks, I will search the school until I find my Narcissus. I must profess my love for him, and maybe he will profess his love for me too!

She leaps up and runs down the hallway in the direction that he went, leaving her books strewn on the floor. Her shoes patter across the brown-flecked hallway tiles. Her auburn hair streams out behind her. She is tired and her heart is pounding, but she is unaware. 

Poor girl, the woman on Mount Olympus thinks. She is so in love; I hope she will not be too hurt.

For hours, Echo runs around the school in search of Narcissus. Occasionally the bell rings and students pour into the halls, but a few minutes later they are back in their classes, and Echo is alone again. 

At lunchtime, the students head to the cafeteria, and Echo follows in search of Narcissus. All of a sudden, she sees him, sitting surrounded by friends and fawning admirers. She scurries over to him, and he looks up at her. He stares straight into her eyes, and her heart melts again. She opens her mouth, but she can not say anything.

"Do you want something?" the cheerleader next to him demands.

"...want something?" Echo repeats.

Narcissus' brows furrow. "You're the girl I ran into earlier, aren't you?"

 "You're the girl I ran into earlier, aren't you?" Echo repeats. She gently raises her hands and puts them together to form a heart shape.

"You love me?" Narcissus asks, laughing. "Huh, that's cute to think you could date someone as handsome as me." He winks, and the group around him cackles.

"Let's leave this lame chick," says the cheerleader as she stands. The group follows.

Echo tries to call out to Narcissus, but she can not. A tear runs down her face and lands in her lap. She weeps silently, but no one notices her. More kids sit down at the table, unaware that a girl is crying her heart out amongst them as they discuss the newest trending albums. Echo is no more than a phantom, stuck in time.

The woman on Olympus feels her heart go out for the poor girl. That boy will pay for breaking her heart, she thinks and raises her arm, murmuring, "He shall be punished for this. Let him feel what she feels."

Narcissus suddenly feels the urge to look at his reflection in the window next to him. He sees the most handsome face he has ever seen, and he falls in love in an instant. He cannot turn away. His friends leave, but he is frozen in place staring at his reflection. Who is that handsome guy? How can he get to him? I love him.

Narcissus and Echo sit alone in the school cafeteria as time marches on, oblivious to each other, as they yearn for things that are out of their reach.

The woman on Olympus smiles. That should teach him. She plucks a flower from a vase next to her and throws it down to him. It lands on his lap, like a flower on a grave. It is a daffodil, also known as a narcissus.

The woman turns from the balcony and walks back inside the palace. They never learn, do they?