Some nights I lay silently on the grass and listen to the trees argue. It's always the same thing. 'Your branches are too close to mine. I need my space.' 'I can't stop growing but I'm trying but the wind is working against me.' 'I know. I'm sorry I just feel so closed in. So trapped.' They're probably talking about the neighbors new fence. At least they are trying now. I hope they can work through this. They're shade is very pleasant on a summers day. They go silent like they always do after a typical fight. They will feel better once the rain comes. Hopefully the weatherman is wrong. This drought won't be good for anyone.
"Who are you?" -those were the hardest words to hear in my life. But I knew I would hear them eventually. I wonder if this is how she felt when she was in my position. I wonder if this is how my child will feel when it happens to them. There's no way to tell. Just the hope to pass down empathy in order to get through these hard times. "Jenn." I say back. That's all she needs to know. If I tell her more she will get confused and scared. She'll worry. So I'm just Jenn. A volunteer most days to her. Some times I'm her visiting daughter but usually I'm that volunteer who helps her with the puzzles every week. We chat about the weather and annoying neighbors. We have good days even if she doesn't realize it. I hope to pass down empathy so maybe just maybe. We'll be happy.
If silence had a scent, it would smell like a puzzle. The old musty smell when remaking a favorite or the smell of a freshly open bag of pieces, pieces that still have shavings of paper because they weren't cut perfectly during manufacturing. Or silence could be the smell of freshly mowed grass. When the mower is grinding away at overgrown grass all of my thoughts are drowned out and I find that my mind grows silent when my nose is full of the scent of grass that is defending itself against a monster attacker.
Her hips were swinging with the beat that flowed through this strange piece of beauty. Her timing was just slightly off but she didn’t care. Her stockings were ripped but could have been on purpose. Her black tank top was hidden beneath a blue fishnet top that went up her arms. She had adorned her wrists with to many bracelets that clicked together. This human didn’t seem to care for a dance party. I had already watched her turn someone else down. She did it with such ease too. The dancer had gotten closer to her in an attempt to gyrate against her and she spun so quickly she almost caught his delicate parts. He jumped and she continued dancing with her arms out straight in front of her. Putting up a distance between her and others. The man quickly gave up and left. Let’s wait until she takes a break. It takes three songs before she takes a break. When the new song started playing her head dropped and it seemed like all the energy had left her. I guess she doesn’t like Evanescence. I take my chance now while she’s distracted by the disappointing song. “Hey, “ crap what was I gonna say, “you looked great there dancing.” That was awful. She’s giving me the side eye. “Thanks.” Short and blunt she does not like me. “I thought you would never stop. Do you not like Evanescence?” She laughs. “No just that song. It’s the only one anyone plays and it’s so worn out.” “Do you dance with others?” “Not usually. I don’t like people touching me when I dance.” “What if you were doing the tango or a waltz?” “I wouldn’t be doing either that’s what.” “Ah you’re no fun.” “Incorrect I am terribly fun just not your kind of fun. Douche.” “That’s uncalled for.” The sarcasm is dripping from my words. “Oh please all you party dudes are the same. Just looking for something quick nothing real.” “How do you know what’s real?” I don’t know if I can contain the trickster in me. I know mother would be ashamed if I didn’t have the right amount of fun. No need to waste an evening. “I do know everyone really spews bullshit in these places.”
Everything was calm The breeze on my palm Was cool and refreshing The silence wasn’t pressing But instead it was a blessing
A distant rumbling calls I cannot hear through the walls A door burst so grand A time to take a stand A person and a hand
No This is not good No This is not how it should Be
My silence replaced by screams No one else can hear My body tears to the extremes My head no longer clear
Why did they wake me? Why must they hate me?
The darkness consumes all Now it will consume all
Run! Run!
You fools! Stay away from me You fools! I can not control me You fools!
Why did you wake me? You knew the consequences were dire Why didn’t you destroy me? All it would have took was fire
We love you
What?
We love you
That…
We love you
Is a LIE.
We love you
You should fly Or else you will DIE By my hand I swear This darkness is not fair
We love you
I know but the darkness is in control
We love you
I love you too but I must pay the toll
This is dire So trust me and set me on fire
“When the moon is full it will bloom. You just have to wait little one.” Momo flapped her butterfly wings and floated about the unopened buds. My dragonfly wings were noisy and less elegant than Momos. I looked upon her wings with envy. “How long until the full moon?” I glance up to the sky but the canopy covered most of the stars. “Oh about 3 days until it’s full. Don’t worry we’ll check each night until then so we don’t miss it.” Momo wrinkles her nose and gives a silly grin. She likes to play. We fly off spiraling around each other in the night. We check back each night. Then it finally blooms. We arrived just in time it had just started to open. The dark green cover started to bulge and pull on the edges. The pink bloom was starting to peek out. Then it burst forth opening wide showing all of its bold pink colors. The outside petals were a deep red and they faded until they were a delicate pink surrounding the center. The center itself was full of shining seeds. They glistened like stars on a lake. “Quickly now.” Momo whispered. We darted in and plucked the seeds from the center. We only had a moment because the bloom wouldn’t stay open for long. But if we save these seeds we could grow more. These plants are a healing ingredient. They rarely grow but now there can be more. Momo and I returned quickly to the faerie elders. Today was a good day.
“Go on. If you want to leave with your friend you will have to give our dear princess a kiss.” His highness gestures to a white haired girl sitting on an ornate throne. Her jewels glittered like starlight against her pale skin. He’s laughing at me. He knows I don’t like anything and he’s doing it again. This time I don’t really have a choice. Ser might have caused all of my problems as of late but she doesn’t deserve to be trapped here. “Fine. I will.” My nerves are on fire. Last ditch effort. “Only if the princess is ok with me, a mere human, kissing her.” I looked towards the princess. She’s smiling. Nope I have no luck today. “I am fine with it. Some might think you’re average but I think you’re interesting.” She’s smirking. I can’t believe she’s smirking. I’m in trouble. “Come kiss me.” His highness is also smirking. God I hate them both. I walk up to the princess. “May I see your hand?” She obliges and extends her hand to me. I take it and gently place a kiss on her fingers. “Ha. That doesn’t count.” He sings it. Ugh. “Then what is the minimum that I have to do?” “Oh I know. Kiss me on the cheek.” The princess places a fingertip on her cheek. His highness nods. I take a breath and lean over to kiss her cheek. Right as I place my kiss she moves and it lands on her lips. Why is it so wet? I finally pull off of her after a few seconds. I try hard not to gag. Come on don’t offend them hold it together. I take a step back. I square up with his highness and state “May I leave now with my friend the human Ser?” He scoffs. “You really feel nothing?” “Actually what I feel is gross but nothing beyond that.” “Fine you may go. You’ll find your friend on your way out.” “Thank you for your generosity.” I bow and head out. Ser must be so confused.
Everyone loves getting a rose. They place them in a vase and put them or it on display, in a place that should get enough light. They water them but how long can they be expected to last. Not as long as any of us would like. They sit there enjoying glances from you, who received this gift with love. Never knowing how long it would last. Would it last? Could it last? No. Nothing ever lasts. Soon all that’s left is shriveled and forgotten. Dried out on a windowsill or table. Only to be thrown away and taken out with monday night’s trash. Dead roses. As dead as the love one once held now jaded by the world. Mourn for the dead roses. The specters of loves past.
The large windows overlook a pansy flower garden. The bed is cozy with a dozen worn in pillows. A large chair occupies the corner, piles of books surround it. The actual bookshelves are full and bursting under the weight of every book she already has. The floor is carpeted but you could barely tell, there's just enough room to walk a tight path. The opposite corner resides a stereo filled with old CD's, background noise for reading and sleeping. The closet is stuffed with everything else, from old school items to unfinished puzzles, with just enough room to organize the few clothes she rotates through. It's not that she can't have more clothes, but the same thing is comfortable and easy. The walls are white, but the green curtains allow light through causing the room to turn green when they are drawn.
