Envy - A Short Story

They say that it was Envy that caused it all. That She had twisted their minds and warped their desires. No one knows how She came to be in the street, some say travelers brought her, others that it was scientists but none have any proof.

All that is truly known is that She changed everything, from the youngest and purest to the oldest and wisest. The once peaceful and quiet street now filled with bitterness coupled with mistrust against every person.

Envy appeared to the Andrews first, to their second oldest, Jessica. As she looked out of the window and upon the Hill's house she glimpsed their youngest daughter, Alice, holding a new toy. Jessica thought it looked nice, so Envy began her whispers about how the Hills had plenty already; there was no need for them to hold on to yet another toy. So Envy took her first victim, then from there she continued gradually adding numbers to her ranks.

And so it began that friends and family looked on at each other with resentment and a desired hatred. Since everyone had something someone else didn't, everyone was a target for Envy. Slowly, things began to go missing, as each person stemmed their desire for something else. Little by little people began to wisher, and the rumors began of each and every person, that so and so were stealing this, that Phil across the street had 'bought' yet another garden gnome.

As things began to go missing it was bound to happen eventually, that someone would be caught. The surprising thing was that it was young Jessica Andrew, since everyone was taking what they wanted, she decided it would be fine to play outside with her toy. Unfortunately for her Alice was just getting home from visiting her friend and saw her toy on the street. Of course Alice, within every right came and took her toy and walked off. Maybe it should've ended there, never to escalate, however Envy was not done yet. Denis Andrew, the oldest, was on scene to watch this happen. Suddenly he found what had happened very funny, "Jessica you just lost against a little girl!" Now this was not the norm sibling rivalry, this was simple spite. What Jessica did next was maybe the simplest reaction, however had the biggest effect possible: she took the toy back.

Alice paused for maybe three seconds, in this time silence was in the street, the wind held its breath, mothers looked out back to check their children as their sixth sense kicked in. Then Alice cried, a sad heart ranching sound that was heard though the silence of the street. It brought some people running, and others walked as if there is a daze. As the simple sound of a young girl crying pushed out Envy and people began to remember how things used to be. Some started to join in with the crying, hugging old friends, forgetting they were moment ago mortal enemies.

So I would love to tell you everything was fine, that people never saw Envy again, but the crying of a little girl is double-edged, and so while everyone else felt sorrow, Alice's dad felt rage and anger build up at his daughter's misery. Then the accusations began, people hugging pushed each other away in mutual disgust, arguments came to threats and everyone went to their own sides with their own opinions.

It didn't continue though as it once did. That same night the peace was broken with a simple crash. A brick though a window. The reply was more brick, followed by chairs: tables, bottles, sofas, TVs, computers, even a Molotov. The violence escalated till doors were being smashed down, that men met in the streets to defend their homes and attack others...

That day which began peacefully ended in a horizon of fire and screams, as mankind's twisted ways took control of the night, Envy looked on and saw Her work was done. So she took off as quick, leaving the work she started to War and Suffering. However She knew if they were to stop for one minute, if each man was to swallow their pride, then for once they would see a day when no one would die...