Chasing Freedom

XV

I heavily took advantage of artistic licence in this with minimal research - where's the fun otherwise? Would the plants discussed grow on mountains with harsh winters? Probably not. For the sake of the story? Definitely. 

Over the next week, she and Myles fell into a routine. He was always up at dawn and by the time she woke herself, he'd come out from his office where he'd been working. Together they made breakfast, eating together at the table like the domesticity wasn't awkward. The first few days, it had been unbearably so, but as the days passed, she found herself enjoying the company, despite her hesitations. Dinner was much the same, although it was far more of a crash course if she was honest, given Mira's culinary experiences were limited. What she lacked there, she always made up by opting to handle clean-up, no matter how often she was told her it wasn't necessary.

Myles made it all so easy—all the time. He never pressed for details she wasn't willing to give and always seem to understand when she wasn't feeling up to conversation. Or company.

And that was often.

When it happened, she'd retreat down to his gym. Sometimes, she worked out. Other times, she sat down in the basement, playing music off of his stereo and lying there with her eyes closed, letting the noise distract her.

Dusk was her favourite time of the day. Myles home was situated at the top of the hill, and she'd found a spot where she could lookout on the city and mountains below, watching the sun go down. The walk wasn't a long one or particularly difficult—unless a snow storm had blown across recently.

Today was the third time she'd found herself back at Kiva's. Noon had just gone by and the the two of them were in her back garden, surrounded by various plants of all shapes and sizes. Some were still covered in snow, while others dripped condensation.

"This one," Kiva was saying, pointing to a small, spiny green plant to their left, "is—"

"Aloe Vera." Mira blushed, when Kiva glanced over at her, raising an eyebrow. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off."

Kiva smiled softly. "It's fine, honey. It's good to know what you're familiar with already."

"It's probably the only one," admitted Mira.

That wasn't a lie. The only herbal remedy she and her father had ever tried was aloe, because the side effects weren't severe if it went wrong. Others they heard about through word of mouth but were never brave enough to try. Most of which, she was sure Kiva had within her gardens.

Kiva ducked right, reaching for a small green vine, with pointed leaves. She picked a leaf off, handing it over. "I think you'll know this next one."

Mira drew it up to her nose. "Coriander. Why do you grow it here? It's a garnish, not medicine."

"The known use is a garnish. When used correctly, it helps with digestion. There's even conflicting reports about it being capable or ridding the body of toxic agents."

Mira stared at the grooves of the leaf, trying to piece together how something she'd known of her whole life, something so inconsequential, could be so useful. Would it have helped her all those time she'd contracted poisoning from questionable foods and wound up vomiting for days? "That's amazing."

"Isn't it just? This side of medicine fascinates me as much as the other. Both have boundless potential from the simplest of things." Moving to a yellow-orange flower, Kiva cupped her hands underneath, glancing back over her shoulder. "Any ideas?"