"where are we?"
"some place unlike any other you've seen, my dear."
"what are these? diamonds?"
"that they are, my dear, but you must not take them."
"but, my love: there are so many. surely the absense of one will go unnoticed."

she reached for the precious stone, but he seized her hand.

"my dear, i said you mustn't take the diamonds."
"but, my love-"
"no!"

his sudden scolding made her cower.

"my dear, my dear! i did not mean to frighten you. forgive me."
"yes, my love. you did not mean to frighten me."

they wandered for a while; one hour, two hours, two years - they were unaware of the passing time.

"my love, you said when we first came that i mustn't take the diamonds."
"my dear, you heard correctly."
"and now, my love, we have been here for some time."
"my dear, you are correct."
"so would i be wrong to assume that time has changed your mind? there are so many-"
"you are wrong to assume, my dear."
"but why?"
"you need not know the reason for what i say, but take heed of my words: do not take the diamonds."
"but, my love, if you do not tell me-"
"enough!"
"but, my love!"
"enough! enough! do not take-"

but he stood too far away to stop her.

with her delicate hand, she plucked one small diamond from where the sun shone down upon it.

"my love, what were your reasons? you see, nothing has happened. the world still revolves. the flowers still bloom. we are still here."

she turned around to face him.

"my love?"

he was not there.