Narcissus (awakening makes meaningful change)

Narcissus went back home where was one. He throwed his bag on his sofa and damned “today is terrible.” Why he was so unhappy? Because he did a bad presentation today. He had a project to do, so he had to do a presentation to persuade his boss to provide his project, however unfortunately he forgot his draft. Finnally, his project did not pass. “Why them don’t know my project is perfect, I will make a lot of money. I’m one hundred present sure.” That’s not all. After he down a terrible presentation to his boss, his boss told he to get a few days rest. “having a good rest, and thinking about what you are yearnning for. My friend.” That’s the last sentence his boss said to him. “I’m fine, I don’t need any rest. Is he stupid.” He sweared. But all of these were useless, he felled tired now then falled into sleep unconsciously.

Narcissus is thirty now. He has a daughter, she is six. His wife left him one year ago because he is too hard working to ignore his family. They divorced, then his daughter followed his wife. However the divroce did not change him too much. He was still spending a lot of time on his work. That was abnormal psychology toward work. Even he got success, that was cannot satisfy him. That was because of his poor childhood and youth. Those tough period created a serious desire of success in his mind. His boss was called Prometheus was a smart, friendly and honest person. He admires Narcissus’s abilities and spirit of hard working. He is not only Narcissus’s boss, but a friend, a teacher. Of course, Narcissus knows that, he feels thankful to Prometheus, his swear was just because of his angry mood.

The second day, sunshine shooted on Narcissus’s face to made him awake. He feld angry no more. He went to kitchen, tried to cook something for himself, but there was nothing in his fridge. He had to go out to eat liked his working day. After he finished his breakfast, he came back home. Suddenly he noticed his house was such dirty, so he cleaned his house. He tried to watch TV, however for him it was so hard to be such easy. He wanted to work, he needed work. Nothing to do made him painful. Suddenly, his cellphone rang, he answered. “Dad, it’s me. Do you remember we get a date today?” that’s his daughter. “aha? Oh, yea, of course I remember.”he lied because he thought maybe it was a good chance to do some things. So he kept saying “I’m going to take you, you are with your mam right?” “yea, see you soon, bye.” the phone was off. He prepared then went for his daughter.

His daughter weared a beautiful garment were waiting for him at the front of her house. When she saw his father, she was so excited and happy. Because for her, the late time she saw her father was three month age. “Dad, where are we going to?”she expected this day so much, so she cannot wait to ask. “you call.” Narcissus got no idea. “I want to stay with you no matter where is it.” “aha? Please tell me a place.” “en, bring me to a park, it’s better close to a river.” “oh”. Actually, Narcissus was strange for why she choosed there and he did not want to go there because it would make he fell nothing todo. Half hour later, they arrived a place. There was peaceful, but for Narcissus that is a horrible place. His daughter asked him to lie down under a tree. He did. Then his daughter lied down near him. “Dad, who is Echo?” A strange question for normal people, but Narcissus was shocked by it. “who told you this name?” he asked loudly. That’s so queer. Generally, a six-year-old girl was no way to know that. “Mam told me to ask this, she said this is a interesting question for you.” “yes, it is interesting.” Narcissus said, this name came from a fable. Narcissus, this name is also came form this fable. That’s a joke among him and his wife long time ago. “do you want to hear a story?”he prepared to tell this fable to her daughter. “yea”. “well, long time age. There was a poet called Narcissus…”he did not finish, his daughter interrupted him. “that’s your name, dad.” “yea, that’s my name. Listen, this poet was so handsome to attrack so many girls. Familiar spirit Echo was attracked by him too. However Echo can only repeat what does other people’s sentence. That’s impossible for Echo to tell Narcissus “I love you”. Then Echo sweared Narcissus to let Narcissus love himself. One day Narcissus saw himself in a lake. He falled in love with himself. Narcissus just said “ I love you” to his shadow in the lake until he was dead.” Narcissus finished this story. “how about Echo?” his daughter asked. “Echo disappeared because of that swear.” “oh, that was so sad.” Obviously, because of his daughter’s age, that was a sad story for her. Then they just kept lieing under the tree. But there was a question in Narcssus’s mind that cannot disappear. Why? Why you let her ask me this question? Ellen, my wife.

It was late, Narcissus must take his daughter back her home. When they were her home, it was six o’clock p.m already. Ellen waited them at the front of door. “it’s late, I cooked more food today, let’s get a male together.” Narcissus didn’t refuse Ellen’s friendly suggestion. They entered house, it was a sweet house. There were yellow wallpaper, clean rooms and warm male on a table. This was the first time Narcissus came in Ellen’s house since they divorced. Suddenly, there was something touched Narcissus’s heart to let his eyes feel uncomfortable. They sited on chairs and began to eat.

After male, Ellen asked Narcissus to her garden and wanted to talk with him. Narcissus also got question to ask her. “why you let her ask me the question about Echo?” Narcissus asked his question that he had thought about whole afternoon first. “en, I think you must ask me this. Did you answer her who Echo is?” Ellen had prepared for his question. “I told her that story of Narcissus. She knew Echo is a familiar spirit.” “even now, you still don’t notice who Echo is.” Ellen said with disappointment. “what do you mean? Echo was just a character in that story. A word you used to kid with me. You always asked me who Echo was because of my name is Narcissus, but I don know any Echo, I don’t know!!” Narcissus was a little bit angry for Ellen’s question. “Calm down, don’t you think you are Echo?” Ellen said with peaceful voice. “me? How come, what are you talking about!?” Narcissus cannot bear her question any more, he roared. “…Echo, seeking for its love. However it was powerless to get it. Then it sweared its lover. Just like you. You feeled powerless for your disabilities, for your indifferent life. Then you sweared yourself, you made yourself become Narcissus falled into desire of success, hard work everyday without any rest. Yes, you succeeded but you lost your family, your happiness. One day, you will like Narcissus in the story, to burn out and die…” Ellen was keeping saying excitedly. “yesterday, your boss Prometheus gave me a phonecall. He said you were exhausted in recent days. He thought you treat work with an abnormal psychology. So he told me to talk with you. Please wake up, working is not the only thing in the world.” Ellen said and a drop of tear falled form her cheek.

Narcissus was driving his car on his way to company. He thought a entire night about Ellen’s word. It may be a time to get rest. “There is something much more important for me” he said lowly. In company, he asked two week to rest. His boss consented. His next station was Ellen’s house. They were waithing for him with sweet smiles.

PS: i don't know why, when i wrote i cannot stop. so it became this long. it was not good. but i like the story of Narcissus.