Chapter One: An Odd Autumn in Indy
It’s over. The last petal of marigold falls to the ebon-sheen grass, and so with it, your drained shell. There’s nothing you can do as your muscles refuse to hold you erect any longer. Face to face with glistening morning dew, you weep, adding to the soft blades your own form of sultriness.
Over your hard breathing, you hear barely audible hoof steps approach, the tell-tale sign of a pony that was nimble on her hooves. They stop inches from your face. It was quiet. Only the sounds of your sobs filling the cold air of a fresh day. You don’t look up to see her face. It’s probably contorted into an expression of disgust. You can hear the shuffle of grass as she turns and takes her leave. You were alone now. Her company offered you no solace before, you were glad she left.
‘Flowers don’t last forever fool. It had wilted long ago, but you kept persisting on finding it. Well, you found it. What now, Plant it? Spare yourself the effort. You will never see Tina again.’
It was a common occurrence for your thoughts to lash out at you. Ridiculing your mistakes, and using them against you. You often fought them. Denied their claims to stay true to your own.
“I will return home”
The echoes of injurious laughter resonates inside your skull. You begin to doubt.
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Chapter 1: An Odd Autumn in Indy
Though cool fall gales let your hair fly hectic, you cared not. Any time spent with Tina was a promise of warm insides and comfort, whatever the weather. Hand in hand, you two appreciate the aroma of decomposing leaves and earthy soil carried by the winds. It would’ve been a pleasant setting, if not for the tall skyscrapers of Indianapolis looming but a few miles away.
“So Tina, how did you find this place exactly?”
Surely she herself didn’t find it. What in heaven’s name would entice her to venture through here?
“It was the strangest thing. I overheard a few janitors at the office talking about it. “
She pauses momentarily to adjust her hand to a more comfortable position in your own.
“I know it’s wrong for a person to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help myself… She said that her dog had run off while she was taking him for a walk on break. She followed the sound of barking until it stopped, then continued on until she came across a clearing in the trees. She said it was filled with the most beautiful flowers. She would’ve stayed longer, but her dog was still nowhere to be found. ______, isn’t that the weirdest thing, flowers, this time of year?”
Well that is certainly odd. About the dog. There’s not many hiding places in this small stretch of oak, it’s a wonder what happened to him. And of course, the flowers were odd too. You couldn’t think of any wild flower that bloomed this late in season, but then again, you’re not a botanist. But you do know there was a few late bloomers in the category of flowers, who chose to blossom when temperatures were cooler, but nothing native to Indiana or this close to the city at least. They could’ve been planted by a person. Who knows, you both may be searching for a homeless man’s personal garden.
“Yeah, that’s weird.”
Oddness aside, you weren’t enjoying yourself. You relished the time when she wouldn’t drag you along on her little adventures, but you enjoy seeing her happy. And she enjoys seeing you suffer, so it was a win-win situation for her. You prefer it that way anyway. Better her happy, and you contempt, than you happy, and her blowing steam. Surely your destination would present itself soon enough. You jumped at the sound of Tina squeaking in delight as she pointed to left.
“Ooooh, I think that’s it!”
Right on cue. Looking to where her index finger indicated, your eyes quickly distinguish the majestic greens from the drab copse. She leads you hand towards the vivacious gem. You smile. You could see glee painting a smile of pleasure across her shining face. You’ve never met a girl that enjoyed the simple things as much as she. It makes you happy.
As you two trample through tough bramble, you approach the enclave. You both halt before passing through the tree line and look to each other, matching looks of astonishment present on your faces. The place was no bigger than a small living room, yet contained enough perennials to fill a greenhouse to the brim with marvelous sights. It looks like a connoisseur of fine paints got into a scuffle with a bull and lost, as every chromatic color can be seen resting atop lush grass. The place was an utter contrast to the autumn setting.
“Oh…Wow…”
Tina looked to you, a smug grin adorning her flushed lips.
“Worth the walk?”
Yes. It was. You know she’s going to rub it into your face as soon as the opportunity arises, but you didn’t care. This place was nothing short of magical. She still had that smug look. You know what comes next…
“Go now, fetch me the prettiest flower you can find. I will be awaiting your return”
She did this whenever she knew she was right. She adopted a cocky royal attitude, just to make my loss deprive me of my pride even more so than it already had. You give her a courtly bow, and a stitched on smile.
“But of course, Madam.”
In all honesty, you weren’t upset that she sent you on her royal errand. Just look at this place! How could anyone be flustered here? As you pass the tree line and into the flowers, an overwhelming euphony of smells assaults your nose. You were not expecting to find such ambrosial bouquet waiting for you. And the warmth! Your windbreaker served no purpose in the sudden mild atmosphere. Tina was right; this was the weirdest thing.
There was so much variety in such a diminutive space. You had no idea where to start! Your problems are quickly alleviated however, as you find her flower. You had no need to ask your girlfriend her choice. You already knew it.
“There you are…”
Your knees pop as you bend down to examine your find. Three equal lengths of stem jut from the earth and towards your face. The stems are crowned with three identical, orange brimmed, yellow petals. She’s going to love this…
“Close your eyes or I won’t show you what I’ve found.”
Seeing no reason not to comply with your demands, she closes her eyes. She even puts both her hands over them to verify she isn’t cheating.
“Good.”
With Tina’s eyes concealed, you pinch off the stem of the flower about three-fourths of the way down. With it disconnected from its roots, you roll it around in your hand, examining its delicate petals. Marigolds really were a pretty flower; you can understand her love for them.
Did you say love? Obsession rather. She had so much orange and yellow apparel, it was crazy. She had sundresses, glasses, nail polish, shirts, and much more marigold-based articles. Your apartment was even painted a homely orange and yellow, unbiased by your own tastes. You didn’t complain though. How could you?
Your heart warms from seeing her smiling expectantly for the surprise. Tina was really the girl of every man’s longing. Kind, radiant, intelligent, and easily pleased, she exemplified every standard that you had of women to a tee. You gave her your heart. And she, her own.
You can’t believe that she had accepted your proposal to spend your lives together just last week. You smile as you rise up from your kneel.
“Alright Tina, you can open your ey…es…”
Autumn was gone. The trees that surrounded the enclave, now a deep green flourish. The skyscrapers were no more, and in their place, gargantuan snow-capped peaks that stood as monoliths of permanence. And as autumn and the skyscrapers were gone, so was your Tina…
