(Rose)
What once was a small peaceful town rather far from London has been swallowed over time with many others by the growing giant.
I don't recognise anything, but some roads and signs seem to match my map.
Before me are endless fields of ruins, grey, rather colourless like everywhere around the big city. Spots of greenery appear though. If not forests, some parks were kept.
I leave the rail track at the leftovers of a station. I follow the empty roads. Everything is silent. Even my flower is. She doesn't fully understand the meaning of my coming here.
R - The book I had, that spoke of you and beings-like-you. That precious book I tried so hard to bring home to help my sister. The man whom gave it to me met me around here. And he probably was buried there too.
B - Who was this man?
R - A friend from a friend from my parents... I think. We met very briefly, but I could tell he was glad to give me the document that spoke of you. My father... My father and some of his friends, they dreamt all their lives of meeting beings like you. The great war surely increased their despair.
R - I'm surprised people already knew about beings like us back then. I was naught but a spore in a dry world. I waited for ages for the environment to grant me the water I needed to truly develop. We were almost invisible. I wonder how they knew about us?
R - I guess there was some water left somewhere for one of you. According to the document and our research, it may be somewhere in the north west of Eurasia.
Investigating what doesn't appear to exist is difficult. And it's easy for science to fall into theology before you realise it.
B - What was about this place then?
R - Someone dear to him was buried close to the church. The church was pretty also I remember. I wonder if it's still there... I think, he and the others never found the courage to follow their dreams on the only accounts of old legends.
B - Then... Why is this place important to you?
R - Ah... Well... That dying man left an impression on me, as he was giving me his treasure, and passing along his dearest dream and faith. I was the last and only believer he had met in years. My visit was to him like a dream come true. Someone else believed, and came to start the search anew, from where his generation left it. He cried... It was very odd, and very touching... I want to say a prayer for him where we met. Because his life's long dream somehow allowed mine, and yours of becoming reality... Realities maybe.
B - You want to thank him... I understand. I hope you can, and I'm grateful too then.
She slithers around my body like thin snakes along my skin and beneath my skin. I can feel her moving beneath my skin.
R - Are you alright?
B - Ah, sorry, I'm arranging my new appearance. It's almost complete. And with it I might also be able to complete something that would safeguard your memory in case of accident. I'm building a lot of things now that I have a better understanding of your body.
R - Didn't you already have a good understanding?
B - The more you dig, the deeper you get.
R - What? Well... As long as we remain ourselves. You know how I feel.
B - I will protect you, and love you, even better from now on.
I laugh at her kind joke. I reach the top of a very small hill. The road takes a turn. In front me are a few trees and rubbles covered with moss and plants. I guess that's all what is left of the church and its tombs.
I sit on a stone to rest. This place sure changed a lot over time. It's like my hometown.
This is it...
R - My house was still standing. Here, nothing does...
B - I'm sorry Rose.
R - Don't worry. I'll just pay my respects and we'll be on our way. There's nothing else left to do here.
B - Take the time you need. I'm here with you. I'll always be.
I know she will. She's kind.
I like this strange new world.
But sometimes I do miss the old one too. When I try to find something I've known. When I try to connect to my past, my memories, I always end up in a kind of disappointment or another. It's not her fault. It's only time being time. If you're away long enough, the slow stream of changes feels like sudden big waves. It hurts more...
This town I looked for. Houses, gardens, squares, cars, people and children, workers, farmers, church, graveyard, streets, trains... Everything up to the landscape.
This town is no more. Its name remains on my map, but today it feels like the slowly eroded encarving of a name on a tombstone.
What it refers to is simply no more. And as life and time goes on, it slowly fades into oblivion.
British people like to see things age with dignity and respect. I wonder if this town did. Hopefully it aged better than this man did.
I don't even remember his name...
But I'm grateful.
I look at the first stars in the sky as night slowly falls. It's getting really cold.
Before I make a fire for the night I want someone to hold my hand for a minute.
R - Blume?
B - Yes, I'm here. I won't leave you. I won't forget about you...
R - ...
I dare a shy smile.
R - Can you hold my hand for a while?
B - Let me try.
I feel it moving within and around my body. It slithers through the opening in the middle of my chest. I see vines, brambles stretch out from my clothes and move toward my hand. They are thornless but have lots of tiny buds and very small leaves.
The soft brambles run around my opened hand like a thin snake and get a kind hold onto it. It's lukewarm, but it's able to hold my hand when I need to. This looks a little ridiculous though, which makes me smile.
R - Thank you. Is this your new self?
B - Yes. I'm crafting these currently. They are a new blend of botanical and human tissues. Along with my energy in a better structure. They should be able to be much more versatile and resilient, without draining your energy.
R - You're evolving too I see. You're learning to create new mixes of your nature and mine so?
B - You could say that. When this work will be completed, you'll be able to use those as whips, or ropes, obeying your every will.
R - Sounds... Odd. But I can't deny I'm curious to see how they turn out.
B - I'm also curious to see how you evolve truly. I love you sincerely.
R - Thank you Blume.
She's dear to me. I'm appeased.
I'm curious.
~
The night was alright. I didn't have a pleasant dream, but at least, I had no nightmares. It was a little gloomy, that is all.
The city was gone. Retrospectively, this was obviously going to be the case.
But on my way there, and my way out, she was with me.
She will flow through time along with me, by my side.
I'm not alone. She's with me.
I'm happy she is.
~