Seed

Chapter 4

Sunshine pours into the hut in sharp, golden beams. I stretch and look around, confused. Then I remember the seed, the forest, the field of poppies and the hut. I remember Alfie.

Where is he? Is he alright? Has he abandoned me and tried to find his own way home?

Last night, he told me not to worry about him. I'm not sure whether to listen to his advice and ignore him or to go on a quest to find him. There's a lump in my throat. Tears form behind my eyes.

Suddenly, I feel the urge to go home. I want to be back in the sewer, listening to the horrible sounds above me. I want to be back in my father's workshop, investigating the seed. I want to be back home, creating bracelets and necklaces and rings to admire.

I want my mother.

I clutch the bracelet around my wrist. I made it from old glass and plastic bottles, old aluminium cans and whatever else I could find lying around. I sculpted small charms and attached them to the bracelet. My favourite charm is the small boat, painted red and white. It reminds me of my mother and all the things that make me happy in my world of pain and sadness.

Nervously, I step out of the hut and into the new day. Everything appears duller and gloomier than I remember it being yesterday, but it could just be my imagination playing tricks on me. I hear a noise and instinctively swivel around. But it's just the rustle of the trees and flowers.

I tread carefully through the field of poppies. On the other side of the field, the poppies have turned black, and wilted, died. I feel more alone than I did yesterday, probably because Alfie isn't with me. I often feel this way – isolated and as if something is missing in my life. I have always ignored the feeling and usually focus my attention on jewellery or reflecting on past, happy memories.

Whenever I hear a noise that sounds vaguely Alfie-like, I jerk my head towards the source of the noise. But it always turns out to be the wind or a tree branch attacking the hut behind me. The further I walk into the poppy field, the more the feeling in the pit of my stomach grows. What if Alfie isn't here? What if he really has left me alone?

Various thoughts swim around in my head, causing me to be increasingly worried. I feel another lump in my throat. The tears return to my eyes. I force myself to be strong and remain calm. It's going to be okay. It's going to be fine.