"Self-Reflection" Marisa Lopez

Not too long ago, there was a beautiful girl. Everyone prayed to be her, yet no one was more obsessed with the girl's looks than her own parents. They would brag, gloat, preach, and show her off everywhere they went. "Have you seen my daughter? She’s so beautiful, isn’t she?" they’d say.

The girl had long, silky brown hair. Her eyes were gentle and a beautiful shade of light green that the leaves, during summer, were jealous of. Her skin was pale, soft, and clear, and her lips were full and pink.

But the girl herself didn't think she was very pretty. Sure, she knew she was attractive and that a majority of people were wrapped around her finger. Yet, that wasn’t what she wanted. She just wanted to be a normal person whose parents wouldn’t boast about her.

“My daughter is so beautiful!” Her mother had said. “So much so that even Nora Waters can’t compete.”

Nora Waters was rated one of the most beautiful girls in town. When the mother said this, Nora’s father, Mr. Waters, overheard. He was furious.

“She said her daughter was more beautiful than my own!” Mr. Waters told his wife. 

Mrs. Waters scoffed. How dare a simple girl such as that compare to Nora? Nora isn’t simple or villainous. She doesn’t have a voice like poison or a smile like a scheming cat. Nora is sweet and kind, she thought.

However, this was far from the truth. Both parents told the others that their child was more beautiful than the other, so they’d gain recognition, title, and appreciation, but the girl with long dark brown hair was also kind, loyal, and generous while Nora was vile, cruel to all, and egotistical.

“She’s wrong. Besides, that whole family is no good,” Mrs. Waters said.

Two days later, Mr. Waters kidnapped the girl and took her to the ocean. There, he chained her to a rock near a dock.

“That'll teach you and your awful family a lesson about telling lies!” Mr. Waters sneered as he tightened the ropes around the girl's body. 

The girl shuttered in fear. “What will happen to me?” she shouted as Mr. Waters left.

“Just wait,” he said.

A full day and a full night passed. The girl struggled to get loose, but it was no use. She was stuck and as more hours went on, she lost more energy. The girl had no choice but to stand against the large rock, water splashing at her feet, cold winds poking at her skin.

Another day passed and the cold chains became tighter, while a low growl came from the sea. The girl shook with fear. She noticed a large snake-like shadow in the blue water. It zoomed up to her, lifted its head above the water, and growled. Its teeth were sharp, its scales luminescent, and its eyes could cause anyone to freeze with fear. The girl stood against the rock, frozen, scared, and alone.

The serpent rose higher and higher above the girl. Her heart couldn’t keep up with her anxiety.

Soon, the girl noticed a shadow on the water again. A human shadow. She looked up to her right. The girl saw a fair man. He reached over his waist and raised his sword. He jumped towards the creature.

The man slit open the creature’s back and jumped down onto the dock in front of the beautiful girl. The serpent wouldn’t give up, even though it bled profusely from its back. It gave the man a low and angry growl. But the man reached into his satchel and pulled out a head. The girl took notice of how the head had snakes for hair, and when the creature looked at it, the snakes came to life and hissed. The girl gasped as the large serpent turned to stone, fell to the side, and shattered in the water. 

The snakes on the head passed out and fell to the head’s side. The man put the head back into the bag. He turned to the girl. His smile was warm. He had curly brown hair, a fair face, and strong features. He chuckled awkwardly. “Terribly sorry about that,” he said. He undid the girl’s chains. 

She fell into his arms, tired and weak. He held her up with such ease that she was surprised. Her heart raced. No longer due to fear, but something else. She couldn’t tell what, though. “Thank you for saving me.” The girl hugged the man. He softly hugged her back. 

“What is that?” The girl asked.

“What's what? Cetus? Oh, he’s just Poseidon's pet. I needed to kill him anyway. It’s no big deal.” The man smiled.

“No, not that. Is that a head with snakes for hair?” The girl asked. 

The man chuckled again and shrugged. “Yeah. It’s Medusa’s head. I needed to kill her too. And I did.” He smiled shyly. 

The girl was shocked. Her father had told her stories about Medusa. “So, Poseidon, Medusa, Cetus . . . they’re all real?” The girl asked, standing up on her own now. 

The man nodded.

The girl smirked, impressed he was able to take her and the creature down. The girl’s father had said that no one could beat Medusa, due to her power and strength.

“Okay, now that we’ve established that. Who are you?” the girl asked.

He laughed. “I’m Perseus, but people call me Percy. Who’re you?” 

“I’m Andromeda,” she said, smiling.

“Lovely to meet you, Andromeda."