She was very beautiful and talented in fact her name meant "Talented one." She was kind and gentle the men in the village swooned at her beauty and kindness. She had many friends who claimed they knew her but her facade was so complete, none truly did. Of those friends she held two close to her heart. The two friends never did see eye to eye, they were as different as night is to day.

One was a strange girl. She was not popular as were the rest of the "Talented One's” friends. She was strange and silent one would suppose, for she never did like a crowd. She appeared not to live in the here and now in fact she appeared to be living in an alternate universe altogether. To some extent the townsfolk found her chilling. She spoke of such strange things. They called her a lost child. No one noticed her no one seemed to care, just how she claimed she liked it.

The other was a popular girl. She gave off airs of superiority. When she spoke others listened. She was just as beautiful as the "Talented One" if not more so. She was not loud yet her presence demanded attention. Which she often got. She was intelligent and very aware. She was a stereotypical popular girl at first she disapproved of the friendship between the "Talented One" and the town Outcast but in time she learned not to care, or so it seemed.

An unsuspecting summer’s night the village had a ball, all the eligible young maiden were invited. This included both the Outcast and the Superior One. The "Talented One" was left to mediate between her two friends and in the end she lost count of herself and gave up. As the night wore on she forgot about the Outcast and enjoyed herself with her other friends and the Superior One. But, the Outcast had not forgotten about her. Sadly by herself, the Outcast watched the dance floor as the dancers laughed and whirled up a fury. Many times there was a change of partners and many times the Outcast was not asked to dance. She watched as the "Talented One" danced many times happily each time with a new partner. The table at which she and her friends sat was a popular one. The young bachelors flocked to that table all the young women there had their choice of young men. The Outcast watched happy for her friend yet sad because she could not be a part of the festivities.

”May I have this dance?" he asked.

Startled the Outcast looked up. Mutely she nodded "yes." The rest of her night was a magical evening finally! She received some attention. Time flew by, as she did not ever think it could. And as the dusk turned to dawn she knew she was in love. Nothing was in her mind but him. Quickly they made up their minds to meet again, by the river the very next day.

The Young Man, he was new to this small town of which the Outcast was thankful. He was understanding and he thought much like her. Rapidly they became close friends. And as the days flew by the Outcast fell in love. Slowly but surely.

One day unable to contain her joy the Outcast told the "Talented One" of her friend the Young Man. Excited for her friend the "Talented One" agreed to meet this Young Man and appraise him for her. This fated decision was an error the Outcast would never forgive herself of. For the second they met the Outcast knew she no longer held a position in his heart. To her deepest sorrow she had mistakenly matched the "Talented One" to the Young Man. Or so, he thought. He was overjoyed, overwhelmed and she had not the heart to tell him it was she who loved him. Yet in time she discovered the feelings the Young Man had were mutual to the feelings of the "Talented One". As each day passed by one more harder to bear than the next, as the Young Man seemed to forget about his friend (except when he needed her help or advice) and began to plan his life around his lady love. His love for her was so absolute that should he have plans the day the "Talented One" called upon him he would cancel them just to go and comfort her. And so the Outcast slowly faded from his life and though she still played an active role in hers. The Outcast was now officially the "Talented One's" advice giver, given her previous relationship with the Young Man. Eventually but surely this drama began to wear on her as the Outcast began to thin and grow wearily and as no one noticed, she began to die. Heartbroken each night she cried herself to sleep then one day she decided she would leave for she could no longer bear their happiness together. So that very morning she packed what little belongings she had and left the small town early in the morning so no one would notice her hasty retreat from the only home she had know in all her years. Tears streaming down her face she hitched her horse and left the village for good, never, she vowed would she return.

Though one complication the Outcast had not accounted for was the Superior One. The day that the Outcast left she began to plant doubts in the "Talented One's" mind. And without the Outcast to confide in, the "Talented One" soon began to crumble into the Superior One's hands. And the love the "Talented One" shared with the Young Man soon diminished. For she was lost and yet would not confide in him. And he was confused and felt he could not trust her anymore. Thus for the first time both parties realized the importance of the Outcast.

Although she had been traveling since early morning she had not gone far, the Outcast, that is. Presently she was lounging in a meadow. It's beauty had taken her breath away as she had rode by. So now she lay tired, upon the soft grass her horse she had set free to graze. She was confident that he would not runaway she had raised him and to some extent he was loyal to her. Softly he walked to her and lay down heavily by her side for the time being satiated. Shifting her position she lay her head on the stallion's full belly and fell asleep with her hand lying gently across his head. Her body felt leaden and her bones were pained but most of all her heart had been broken.

Deeply despaired he decided he would search every village until he found her, the Outcast. So committed was he to this goal he almost by passed her, laying serenely in her meadow. Yet as he passed the meadow by the sight of a healthy and gorgeous un-tethered horse was a sight to draw any head. And he turned into the meadow curiously. The sight that greeted him threatened to take his breath away. It was the Outcast surrounded by wildflowers. Her head lay upon the wondrous stallion. She appeared not to be breathing. Carefully he laid a hand upon her cheek and watched transfixed as her brilliant eyelids fluttered open slowly revealing the emerald gems they hid beneath. Smiling he gently lay a kiss upon her cold lips. Peacefully she returned his smile.

“You are cold," he stated concerned.

“Yes," she answered serenely, "I am dying."

Yet even as he removed his warm overcoat and helped her sit up to wrap her in it. He could tell she spoke the truth. She was already stiffening as her spirit prepared to leave her body and her breath was shallow. Almost; non-existent.

Angry tears came to his eyes as he questioned her.

“Why do you leave me now? That I have finally realized that I love you?" the Young Man demanded halfheartedly as she drew her last breath a tranquil smile playing upon her lips….