In the misty hills of ancient Greece, there lived a cheerful nymph named Echo. Her laughter sparkled like silver bells, and her voice was a sweet melody that made everyone smile. But one day, Echo made a mistake by helping the sneaky god Zeus trick his wife, Hera. When Hera discovered the tricks, her anger rumbled like thunder. “From now on, you will only repeat what others say!” she declared, casting a spell that changed Echo forever.
Now, when Echo tried to speak, her words would bounce back like a playful echo in the hills, leaving her with a heart full of thoughts but no way to share them. One sunny afternoon, while wandering through the vibrant forest, Echo spotted the breathtakingly handsome boy named Narcissus. Everyone who saw him fell in love, but he only loved himself and thought no one could ever be good enough for him.
As Echo gazed at Narcissus from the trees, her heart fluttered with hope. “Who’s there?” he called out. With excitement, she replied softly, “...there!” When she stepped out and said, “Come here!” Narcissus frowned and shouted, “Stay AWAY from me! I’d rather be alone!” His words pierced Echo’s heart, and she vanished into the shadows, leaving only her echoing voice behind, forever longing to speak her own feelings.
Meanwhile, the gods were watching Narcissus. One hot day, he knelt by a shimmering pond to drink and was enchanted by his own reflection. “Who is that?” he marveled, falling madly in love with the beautiful face staring back at him. Day after day, he returned to the pond, forgetting to eat or sleep, lost in his own world.
As the weeks went by, he grew weaker, unable to look away. Finally, he vanished, and where he once knelt, a lovely flower bloomed, with white petals bending gracefully over the water, forever admiring its own reflection. In the quiet forest, Echo’s voice still danced on the breeze, a whisper of lost dreams and unspoken words, fluttering around for anyone brave enough to call.