You are quite like a wilted flower,
neglected,
dried out,
and crumbled into pieces.
But, why did you still catch my attention with that beyond-belief beauty of yours?
All you need is a little love to bloom,
a little care to grow colorful,
and a litt...
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XL: Wilted Flower
A Garden in the Ruins | Uncovering tender blooms amid the ashes of sorrow and loss.
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Minho laid beside Riki's grave, the weight of sorrow pressing down on him like the heavy clouds above.
Each breath felt labored, as if the very air were thickened by the memories that swirled around him, memories of laughter, late-night secrets, and dreams shared under starlit skies. Now, those dreams felt tainted, shattered by the harsh reality of loss.
The sky mirrored his tumult, a muted gray that seemed to absorb all warmth, casting a somber shadow over the world.
He stared blankly into the abyss above, feeling the chill seep into his bones.
How could something so innocent, so utterly captivating, conceal such darkness?
Iris's clone had taken a life without a flicker of hesitation, a cruel twist of fate that had left him reeling.
The cat's soft mewl had pierced the air, a sound so mundane, yet it had elicited a violent reaction from her, one that shattered the fragile illusion he had held of her.
Every time he thought of her, his heart clenched. The memory of her innocent tone, her clueless eyes, how could she seem so unaware of the chaos she wrought?
Or had she simply been acting dumb all along?
It chilled him to the core, a shiver racing down his spine as he recalled the ease with which she had extinguished a life, as if it were a mere nuisance in her day.
He had once been enchanted by her, drawn in by her seemingly whimsical nature. But now, that enchantment felt like a curse, and he could see clearly how someone could be ensnared by her beguiling charm, blinded to the danger lurking beneath.
Gladness washed over him, but it was a bitter sort of relief.
She had disappeared into thin air, leaving behind nothing but a haunting echo of her presence.
He couldn't stand the thought of being near her any longer, the weight of her darkness pressing against his heart like a vice.
She was harmful, a force of nature that thrived on chaos, devoid of the very feelings that made life precious.
What else was she capable of? The question loomed like a specter in his mind, feeding his growing paranoia.
If she could take Riki's life with such ease, what else could she do? The power she wielded was unfathomable, and he knew he had to tread carefully, to shield himself from the storm that was her existence.
His thoughts spiraled back to Riki, his precious best friend, his brother in all but blood, whose life had been snuffed out in an instant, as if it were nothing more than a flickering candle extinguished by a gust of wind.
The memories felt like a cruel mockery, every laugh shared now a painful reminder of what had been lost.
Minho's heart ached with the weight of it all, a guilt that gnawed at him relentlessly.
What if this was all his fault? What if he had never let himself get entangled in the web of dreams that led him to Iris? What if he had simply stayed away, kept his heart locked away, and focused on what truly mattered? Perhaps Riki would still be alive if he hadn't fallen in love, if he hadn't been so consumed by his quest to find the girl who had haunted his dreams.
But even as he pondered these dark thoughts, a warm sadness enveloped him, a gentle reminder that some things were worth the pain.
The question lingered in his mind, an echo of his own heart.
Did he regret loving Iris? The answer bloomed within him like a fragile flower breaking through the frost of winter. No, of course he didn't. He loved her deeply, irrevocably, and he could already envision a future with her, a tapestry woven with threads of joy and heartache, laughter and tears.
With a sad smile, he closed his eyes and let the warmth of that love seep into the cracks of his sorrow.
In his mind's eye, he saw a garden of dreams, vibrant and lush, filled with the colors of hope and longing.
Iris stood there, her laughter like music, her eyes sparkling with life. In that fleeting moment, he felt a connection that transcended the pain, a tether to a future yet unwritten.
But reality crashed back in, heavy and unyielding.
The sky above rumbled with distant thunder, a reminder of the storm brewing within him.
He opened his eyes, blinking against the tears that threatened to spill.
The love he felt for Iris was beautiful, yet it was intertwined with a darkness he couldn't ignore.
It was a love marked by loss, shadowed by grief, a beautiful tragedy that had shaped him, marked him, forever changing the course of his life.
As he lay there, enveloped by the sorrowful silence of the graveyard, he made a silent vow to Riki.
He would carry the memory of their friendship with him always, honoring the bond they shared even in death.
And he would be vigilant, wary of the shadows that lurked just beyond the edge of his heart.
If he was to survive the chaos that Iris brought, he would need to be stronger, more resolute than ever before.
He would not let her darkness consume him.
He would learn to navigate the complexities of love and loss, holding onto the flicker of hope that still burned within him.
With a heavy heart but a determined spirit, Minho rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his clothes.
He looked up at the turbulent sky one last time, a silent promise lingering in the air.
He would find a way to reconcile his love for Iris with the pain she had caused. For now, that was enough.
