1.Justice

"But I know the difference between myself and my reflection; I just cannot help wondering, which of us do you love?", I laid down on the paper that was placed before me. I was expected to draw on it rather than write peculiar words that probably made no sense. Alas, I had done this and could not erase it.

"Neither of you," a voice answered my strange inquiry; he was leaning almost touching my shoulder. What on earth was he doing there?, I immediately asked myself. He laughed then - noticing my puzzled look - and said no more. But there he remained, expecting something I could not reach. I finally answered - I wish I had not.

"I was of course referring to a sentiment of rejection towards one's self; the difference as pointed here by no means explains itself in someone's look in a mirror and how it differs from reality. One's soul reflected in one's doing -"

"Yes, yes, quite interesting," he interrupted me yawning, " I should leave you now, I bid you good-bye, Miss."

I watched him as he walked away, but then, as I was feeling that justice had not been done, I loudly exclaimed, "Miss Gloom," and said nothing further.

What was this stranger doing at that time of the year, occupying so important a place in my mind? This never-before-seen wanderer struck me by his flawless intrusion in my thoughts, and how he imagined that he knew me. Ignorant, I remember he seemed at first. Another victim of my head he was in fact.

I walked away myself soon after the incident. I was frowning, but strangely, I knew it and was quite enjoying it. As if he could see me! How oddly I was complaining within myself for being so unaware - having put on the whitest dress I had, having gone in the central portion of the yard - my world, drawn by me - not being conscious of my exposure. And that stranger, coming of course attracted by my white clothing, thinking I was a fairy placed by an unknown hand, seeing my occupation - of course, he had reasons enough to be there.

Had I reasons enough to be there, and not somewhere else? I was desperately looking for someone's attention; it was all I was longing to have, a little seat in the front row, so I could watch the play without being accused of participating. And then, someone's attention would have been a shield between others and me, with someone's being caught inside it. Inappropriate, Miss, so inappropriate!

Had I not fulfilled my task? Had I not trapped someone at last? How different my imaginary fairytale had seemed at night, while crushing my heart in solitude! How different it was then, after having encountered him!

Arriving in the sitting room, I noticed that Miss Modesty and Miss Fellow had come before me and had been waiting for my return. How unaware they were!

"Dear me, how you have changed this last month, Miss Gloom! Why, the tea things must be brought immediately!" Miss Modesty, with her fine, well-chosen words, made me wonder if she was suffering at all, past or present.

"Why are your eyes wandering around?", Miss Fellow said. She was a nice young woman. Very lovely at times, very insupportable at others. "Come, you must sit with us."

But what was I doing?! I was of course the host and had to pour the tea, serve the biscuits and call for the bread; oh, how distant I was, I am sure, they must have noticed that!

"Do help yourself, I beg, to these fresh biscuits - I am very fond of them -"

"Miss Gloom, you must excuse me if I prove wrong, but why are you always in so bad a mood? You do not get too many guests, I suppose!", Miss Fellow said.

"And no one can help thinking that you are hiding a secret or such, forgive me!" the other cried - she was so affected! I felt a heartbreaking need to pour the tea remains right upon her curled head. How nice of me it would have been!

"There are no secrets of the kind - I am known for my necessity to retire at times," I replied, piercing her with my eyes, "so there isn't much to be done."

"But what will he say," Miss Fellow entered the conversation, "the man you were talking to in the yard?"

"I do not know what you are insinuating, Miss Fellow; I assure you both that my relations to that man are by no means more than of two strangers'."

"He was standing so close to you, I saw it, upon my word!"

The anger was literally boiling, just like the tea in my cup. The sensation these two had caused was positively odious, because, as the liquid was burning my tongue, its taste was outstanding.

"Why should I blame you," I at last said, charmingly calm, "when I can place the blame entirely on myself?"