For a Moment

I take a deep breath and the smell of rich soil, plants and wood warmed by the sun impedes all my senses. I trace the trail of creeping vines clinging to the raised planters before me and exhale with instant relief. I have made it safely to my favorite place in the land of Ishness, the greenhouse.

I'm not entirely sure how I discovered this place, but I find it hard to believe I'm solely responsible for imagining it. So many places here are created by anyone who seeks similar solitudes, and for me, it's this place. But this greenhouse isn't like any ordinary greenhouse. It is magic, and all the entities know they'll find me here.

Leaving the wooden planters, I venture deep into the greenhouse, past the koi pond, and out the back door to the shed. Although today had not been kind, keeping myself busy was often the best short-term solution.

The trowel, and tomato cages are in clear sight, only allowing the anticipation of planting to blossom with every step. As the sun sets the tall woodland trees cast forlorn shadows on the ground beneath me. I doubt any entities will stop by tonight, so I'll keep the plants company while I work. I pass through the kitchen, and to the garden plots where I had weeded several days before. However, my heart sinks when I realize I'll have to go over several spots again because they are littered with dandelions.

Time moves differently in Ishness and I guess I forgot that. I did enjoy everything with gardening, but tonight after dealing with today I want to plant my tomatoes with no extra work. In my mind, these weeds keep me from the satisfaction I'm chasing, and I can feel the negative thoughts creeping in. I'm actively trying to do something that keeps them away, and I had to work for that too.

Why couldn't tonight just be easy?

A breeze of pine and eucalyptus washes over me as I breathe in its familiar scent. My heart rate quickens as I realize I am no longer alone, as the greenhouse fills with energy thick enough to sink in. I turn to face him.

"Ozul, you scared me."

His blue eyes flash with mild amusement. "Sorry."

I hear what he says, and I know only part of that is sincere.

"You know, even the smallest noise goes a long way?" I say as I kick the loose gravel, and it echoes off the glass panes in validation.

"It's not my fault, you couldn't hear me." He says.

He's right, I was focused on what I was doing, but I know why he's here, and I want to avoid that conversation if possible. So instead, I sigh and return to the kitchen to get my plants.

"Don't you have to weed before you plant those?" He calls.

"Yes, Ozul," I say with a clipped tone.

"And aren't these weeds?" He said, pointing to the dandelions.

I turn towards him and look from his pointed finger to his face with a blank stare. He is trying to get under my skin, and although it's working, he underestimates how stubborn I can be.

"I'm sorry, do you have a problem with how I garden?" I ask.

"Oh no, not at all." He said, masking a smile, "I was checking to see if you were...avoiding me." His voice lowers at the end.

This conversation is going to happen at some point. I didn't have an excuse for turning away from him that didn't result in telling the truth, and I wouldn't lie to him, so I chose silence instead.

"Well," he said nodding toward the counter behind me, "don't let me stop you from planting, too."

I get my plants like he says, even though it was my idea in the first place. When I return to the plot, he hands me the trowel as if giving me a silent order to begin gardening. I kneel in front of him and begin to work. He doesn't say anything, but I feel his eyes on me as I shove the trowel into the ground and start pulling the weeds from the root.