"Flowery Resurrection" by Emily McDurman

            A sunny yet shady June afternoon always leads to a bright and wonderful future. Glorious was the grass, so green against a bright blue sky, and the white fluffy clouds floating by you could have sworn there were angels sitting atop of them. The only dreadful thing about the day was that there were nasty creatures of tiny sizes sticking to skin, hoping for a bite of blood. That doesn't include the vampires that roamed around, for they were only allowed out of their homes at night, when no one dared to leave the safe confinement of their shelter in fear that they would turn a corner with a stalker tailing them.

            That of course is not the tale of a story, or a great way to begin one. I was walking along in my father's forest, wandering aimlessly in, of all things, a dress and petty coat. It was considerably hot and I was in no humorous mood to begin laughing, but simply looking for a brook to drench my thirsty lips in. I could not, of course, find one since I was afraid of going off too far and not being able to find my way back, or worse, being trampled over by one of the wild boars.

            The ground floor of the forest was an amazing sight that sometimes I was even side-tracked from my thirst and went to explore, only to get caught in a thicket and then be remembered harshly of my thirst. I walked along, looking at the little rivulets of sunlight that seeped through the tree-branches. For how thin some of the trees were, it was amazing how much light they could block out, but how little humidity they could capture. I wondered then if I had gone too far, but made no notice of it, since I was having fun being alone for once.

            All I seemed to be all the time was protected. Never left alone, not even to dress. I never could make out an escape tactic that would take less then thirty seconds at the most. Little daughter, you cannot go off on your own, the world is so big and you are so small. I always wondered why they could go out; they were of no greater value than I. But today, this time, I had run off. Even with this heavy dress on. I abandoned my post between the kitchen and horse stalls and galloped away on my own free will, through the iron fence and into the forest, people chasing after me yelling, "Lenora! Lenora! Come back dear Lenora!" Tough snot if I were to go back there. They would have to put me in a bag and carry me off if they wanted to lock me back in that house with my parents and that horrid piano they make me play all day and night for their own satisfaction. If Mother really wanted to hear the piano, she ought to play it.

            I felt as though I was about to pass out soon. The sun was scorching me through the leaves and perspiration was building up around my breasts, back, neck, and other uncomfortable places. I pulled off my hat and fanned myself, taking in deep breaths. It was so hot in that dress, bodice, and corset I wanted to die right then and there, stumbling along on a forest of free Earth, thanking my lucky stars I was out and yet cursing them for letting me become free in a most unsuitable situation. I took a deep breath and stumbled along through more bush and green leaves that scratched my bare arms and tore holes in my gloves and dress, and with a wonderful sight in front of me from pulling away the luscious leaves, I thought myself to be hallucinating.

            A very large circle of cut, green grass was in front of me. A hill was in the middle of the sight, with a tree planted right in the middle of a small mound. A large apple tree, with dark green leaves and dark red apples, big as my hand I could imagine. I could smell the scent waft over to me in a small breeze, almost teasing me. The thick trunk was brown and ancient, and I dreamed for a moment of lulling under it, chewing luxuriously on one of the juicy apples. It was enough to get my mouth to water, so I stood up straight and walked to the tree, looking at it determinedly, making sure it wasn't my imagination. Though of course, the problem with being already dehydrated and then walking out in a fully sun-exposed area to reach a destination meant that eventually you were going to fall, in which I did.

            With a sudden movement my knees locked and I fell over with a small groan of pain, my body twisting slightly on the odd angle. I thought to myself whether this was it. I was going to die here, away from home, alone, and most importantly, thirsty and sweaty. I didn't think I'd make a lovely corpse like that, rotting in the heat. Just then, I heard a small rustle of water, like a stream. A very small one, but a stream. I attempted to get up but something pressed me flat against the ground and I smelled the newly cut grass with a deep breath, loving the scent of dirt. Then I had the sensation of flying, for something was then lifting me up high. I made no protest, since I had figured that this must be what it is like to die. My head was turned and again I smelled the Earth, but this time it was a bodily scent. Warm and inviting, like a cup of cider during a picnic on cool grass. Yes, that was it...

            Then something was being pressed to my lips, and a cool, refreshing liquid was poured into my mouth. I quaffed to this mysterious person's great interest, for I heard him laugh slightly. Then I was set down on a patch of cool grass, where I took a moment to cough and recuperate, then open my eyes to this savior.

            Oh he was so devilishly handsome I believe I fell in love right then and there. He had olive colored skin, tanned slightly from the sun, and curly dark hair that stuck to his head from sweat, which beaded on each individual strand. I almost gasped out at his wonderful green and brown eyes, shining like candles, and his lovely lips and smile. His chin was built so strongly and his broad shoulders leaned over me, reminding me slightly of boulders to a river. I sat up and composed myself more, looking at him and then smiling shyly away.

            He spoke in an accent unknown to me, but I knew then that I liked it. His voice was like velvet; a soothing remedy for poor, innocent girls like me who happened to run away and become lost in unknown lands.

            "What say you?" I said. My eyes were wide, looking at his face and observing his uncovered upper half. He wore pants that weren't of high quality. They looked as though they were made of skin from some sort of animal, but I did not question it. It looked fine on him.

            "I say I." He laughed slightly, and then continued. "You don’t need to speak so formally, M'Lady." I blinked in wonder. Speaking formally? I was not speaking formally in anyway way, shape, or form. This young man must not be from around here. I tossed some of my hair back and looked up at the trees, my stomach growling a little too loudly for comfort. The stranger stood and reached up with one swift, broad hand and picked me an apple, rubbing the parasites from it and handing it to me, sitting back down. I smiled again and bit into it, looking at him and yet ravishing the apple that was gratefully serving my insides.

            "Good?" he asked. I nodded. I felt myself blush as I bit into the apple again, feeling his eyes search over my own face and body, down my bosom and across my curves and my one exposed ankle. I wished then I had a book, so I could look at least slightly intelligent. I thought myself to seem like an eager young child, waiting for her mother to come and find her, naïve and weak in all ways known to people. I nearly sighed out loud as soon as I finished the fat apple, but he took the core away and handed me another. He didn't seem much of a talker.

            "Where did you come from?" I asked without much thought. I took another bite of the apple, my stomach almost full and my thirst finally quenched. I looked at him with wide eyes, unable to help it.

            "The other side of the tree," he replied. I smiled and looked at the apple, my hands holding it in my lap.

            "I'm Lenora."

            "Adonis."

            "Adonis? That's a wonderful name." He thanked me and relaxed against the tree, like a branch almost. Lazily lying against and supporting something else, while being supported. I smiled again, and then looked around at my new surroundings.

            "Did you do this all yourself?" There was no answer, so I looked at him. He was smiling and nodding his head slowly. Not much of a gesture.

            "Do not you talk much?"

            He shook his head, then reached behind him and pulled out a bow and a quiver of arrows that strapped around his back. I blinked and shook my head, indicating that no, I did not know how to do archery nor did I care how. I didn't want to learn anything new; I wanted to be content with myself, even if it were just for a little while. Was that so much to ask?

            He nodded towards the forest and I shook my head. "I don't like hunting." He smiled suavely and strapped the arrows around his chest and back, lying against the tree trunk again. I was confused, but ignored it and took another bite into the apple.

            "Where is your favorite place to go?" I looked at him, amused he had asked something more than three words long. I smiled and replied, "I never go anywhere. I'm a prisoner to my house. But if I had to look back on this day after traveling anywhere, it would be here."

            "That's very bold and quick to say."

            "It was a bold and quick move to make."

            "I understand..."

            I looked at him. "What about you? Only 100 years to live. Where would you go?"

            He smiled again. "I've already been everywhere. Not all of us live only 100 years or less. But, same as you, if I had to go traveling and look back on my life, this would be the spot I would choose to be my favorite. Lovely, isn't it?"

            "Yes, very. What did you mean by the –”

            He chuckled, politely interrupting me and apparently delighted, he relaxed, and again it made me imagine that he was apart of the tree. I turned around and pet the trunk slightly, letting my fingers linger over it in pure curiosity.

            "I don't think I've ever seen a tree this healthy before." I paused. "But then again, I haven't seen many trees. Until today." I became bitterly reminded of my quest. Adonis laughed again, as if he understood to his full extent.

            Just then I became uncomfortable. It was still very hot and I was trying to cool myself under the shade, but you cannot become totally cool unless you strip of some clothing. I looked over at Adonis pleadingly, and it seemed that out of nowhere, he'd appeared with a shirt over his arm. It was made of thin cloth and was very large.

            Eagerly, I took it and went round the tree to address itself on me. I left my undergarments and slip on, however. Even though the shirt went well enough to my knees, I felt embarrassed. I sat back down next to him and folded my clothing, being careful not to rip anymore of the fabric.

            "That's a mighty beautiful dress," he said. I nodded and smiled shyly again.

            "Too bad it's ruined beyond belief..." He chuckled again. I joined him in the small laughter, and once we were done, we sat in silence. The sun was still high, since it was still mid-afternoon. My skin prickled with warmth, but I was heavens cooler then I was before. I wondered about Adonis for a moment. He gazed from the leaves of the tree to myself, then gazed tenderly out at the grass and into the shrub and wood.

            Presently as I was dozing, he stood up, and with a charming half smile he offered his hand to me. Too dazed to think, I accepted his hand and he led me out to the wood. Once I stepped out of the trees shade I felt the heat of the sun baking my cheeks. I felt like my hair was being tangled so I untied the band around my hair and put it up in a ponytail, something that I had practiced whenever I became bored. Mother hated it so; she said it was unladylike to have no curls down around the neck.

            I tied my hair into a ball at the base of my skull, unhappy that it was lumpy despite my practice. My hands fumbled very much around Adonis. He smiled at me when he saw what I was doing, and reached one strong hand to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear very sweetly. I smiled and nodded a thank you, patting down my hair. I hated the dreaded curls I was forced to endure. I liked it best when my hair was let loose; down and straight. I felt more freedom and careless like that. But again, that was simply apart of my naivety to be a woman.

            We went into the forest together and Adonis reached behind him for an arrow, grasping it and loading it into the bow carefully. He took aim and walked forward in an odd stance. I followed behind him as quietly as I could, being careful not to step on any twigs or get caught on any branches.

            I followed him like this for ages it seemed. He did nothing but walk forward and dart his eyes, listening to the sounds of everything around him. It actually seemed miraculous what he was doing. I'd never seen a hunter in such a stance before, or with such little equipment. My father and his friends used to go out with the hounds and hunt, but it seemed like a sort of pointless sport to me. All they did was sit on horses, smoke a pipe, and send out the hounds to do their dirty work. Every time one of Father's hounds was killed, I always thought he'd give up the sport for good, but he never did.

            I was standing, leaning by a tree when I heaved a great sigh. I hadn't meant to, it just came out with so much emotion. Adonis stopped, listened, and then turned around sharply and shot the arrow. It grazed my ear and I stood frozen. I imagined the look of utter shock on my face. What was this boy doing?!

            My ears tuned and I heard everything in the present. I heard the arrow whiz through the leaves and between the tree branches, puncture a hole into something very big; the grunt of a beastlike thing, and then the fall. I felt the Earth shake.

            I turned around and saw the boar, whose head was closest to me. Adonis hadn't tried to kill two breathing mammals with one arrow, he'd saved me. And even though it risked a small scratch from me, I was saved. I then knew for sure that I loved him.

            In a moment of womanly frenzy, I threw my arms over Adonis's shoulders and hugged him very tightly, mumbling words of thank you in his shoulder. His skin was warm, but I didn't get enough of a feel before I pulled away, knowing I'd turned ghastly pale from shock of what I had done.

            I tried to mumbled out an "I'm so sorry, please accept my apology," but Adonis simply smiled and went over to the boar and pulled out his arrow with a nasty, bone crunching, blood and guts sort of sound and carried it with him in one hand. With the other, he clasped my hand and walked me over to the stream that I had heard earlier. It was very near to the tree, in which you could see through the brush, but was hidden like a small cave within trees surrounding it. The trees were very tall and skinny, and looked ripened and healthy.

            He leaned on a large rock and washed his arrow in the river, then splashed his face and drank some. I joined him on another large rock beside him. The water was icy cold and made my teeth ache when I put it in my mouth, but it tasted very fresh and gave me goose bumps when I washed my face with it. I laid my head on the rock and waited for myself to warm up again. I closed my eyes and felt myself doze, only to be awoken again by Adonis gently shaking my shoulder. I sat up on my rock and he sat on his, leaning towards me. I took off my shoes and dropped my hot feet into the river, in which he did the same, and we looked at each other for a moment. My feet were touching his, since they were cold and his were warm. Under the water I could see my white, ivory skin with his smooth olive skin. I tilted my head and a piece of hair fell from my ponytail, but before I could tuck it behind my ears, he reached over and did it for me, letting his hand rest around my jaw. It was very comforting, but my heart was racing. It seemed like no blood was getting to my head, for my thoughts were very cloudy.

            I leaned forward and so did he and our lips met one another. I tasted him. He tasted like the cold water, very fresh and cool, but his skin was hot and I could feel it against my burning skin. My nose was buried in his cheek and he pressed his lips harder against mine; then pulled back gently. I blinked a couple of times, as if confused about what had happened. He saw the puzzlement and kissed me again. I could feel his mouth twitch under mine, trying not to smile, and I pulled away and laughed.

            He laughed with me and stood in the river, grasping my shoes and slipping them onto my wet feet. Then he picked me up by the waist and set me down gently on the dry Earth, and kissed me very tenderly and lightly on the lips again. He joined me and we walked off together happily. He held my hand and I felt the roughness of it, very protective, but not overly, like my parents. I thanked whatever God there was for sending me such a treasure.

            We walked out to the verdant grass again, taking our slow time to laugh every now and then. We decided in silent meaning to simply walk around the perimeter of the lovely place. We held hands until he tagged me and we played around for awhile with games. When finally we tired ourselves out, we lay on the grass in the middle of nowhere and looked up at the sky, making out pictures of the clouds.

            Finally in silence, I thought to myself there aren't any flowers. I sat up and looked around, pointing out the fact to Adonis. He frowned slightly and sat up with me, observing. We shrugged it off and stood again. It seemed like the sun was finally sinking, though I wished it wouldn't.

            We went back around the perimeter to retrieve Adonis's arrows and bow, and once we did, Adonis kissed me again. I smiled and kissed him back with as much vigor as he, tagging him playfully again.

            It wasn't until then that I knew I'd put him in danger. We heard a rustling noise in the woods right besides us, but before Adonis could load up an arrow and take aim, the boar he had shot at earlier came tearing from the shrub, knocking me over and taking Adonis by his torso, ramming him into the apple tree. I screamed, naturally, and ran to Adonis who lay wounded and bleeding heavily by the tree.

            The boar had rammed the tree so hard and the tree was so sturdy and strong that he had accidentally smashed in part of his skull. The boar stumbled back and then lay down with a grunt, and was quiet. A quick death, by one's standards.

            Adonis, however, had a slow and painful death. He lay bleeding, moaning in pain that he could no longer move his legs because his spine had been turned to almost shards of glass. I comforted him as much as I could, sobbing all the while and trying to stop his bleeding. His blood stained the grass and all that was around him, including me.

            When finally he looked at me with his eyes, once shining so bright like candles, and now dulled to a stumped piece of wax, I could see instantly that his last thought before death was I. I kissed his unmoving lips and mumbled the words I had been longing to say all day, but never had the chance. The words were: I love you.

            And I had, with all that my being could spare. My heart felt wrenched and a ball of depression wound up in my stomach, slowly dissolving in a painful, agonizing momentum. I became angry at the boar suddenly, and kicked it with all my might. But I knew that no matter how much I made the corpse suffer, it could not bring back Adonis or the lovely feeling he gave me, so I laid Adonis down gently and dragged away the boar, just as the sun was setting.

            The night turned very blue and the stars showed up so brightly and so early I thought it the work of Adonis. He lay at peace now. I had fixed his body into a more comfortable position, and his facial expression was that of peace. I'd covered the boar with leaves and branches, hiding it in the scenery.

            Since it was such a warm night I lay beside Adonis and slept, falling asleep to the sound of vampire’s wings. I was sleeping on the hard ground until well into the next afternoon, with the sun again baking on my cheeks. I woke up and began to cry and mourn for Adonis, sad and upset at everything. The ball of depression had still not fully dissolved, and I thought then and there that it never would.

            When I looked at Adonis, I saw a single flower blooming where his blood had been. In fact, several had begun to sprout, and I knew that that could not be accomplished in only one night. Adonis's blood must have been very, very special to someone. That someone was I. True love creates tragedy.

            I collected his bow and arrows as I should have before, slung the arrows over my back and went in a random direction to get home. Father says he found me with a blood-stained shirt, dazed, and half-delusional out in the sun under a tree, mumbling about someone named Adonis and a crimson flower. I told him my story, but as expected, he thought I had been hallucinating. He said that he had been in the woods many times and there had never been one apple tree on the entire plantation, ever. I of course did not believe him, for I knew that Adonis was true and real in every way.

            After a spell in bed, they finally let me out of the house to roam outside. They had put in a sturdier fence though, so that I could not gallop away again. I felt that I was no longer trapped, however, for when I went outside, one of the little children maids pointed out that an entire bed of flowers had suddenly sprung and bloomed all over the lawn. After one would be picked, another would grow back in its place.

            I went eagerly to see the flowers, and I was faced with a field full of the crimson flowers of Adonis. I named them blood-red anemone, or, the windflower, for they were carried from the apple tree to my yard. I felt very lonesome, but no longer trapped. I cried when I saw the flowers, and Father embraced me. Within his chest I mumbled to him, "Father, Father, please don't ever let me leave these gates again!"

            That was when I knew he believed my story, and every morning I wake up to windflowers fresh in a vase in my room, and the sun shining out just like the day I'd met Adonis.

            True love may create tragedy, but it takes away the painful feeling of being trapped, and sets your heart to new heights of freedom.