Thorns

333

Simon steps through the oval portal into a fantastical forest. Where the skies are always blue and the sun shines until the moon creeps up from behind; littering the sky with billions of stars. Simon is polite and removes his shoes before stepping onto the heavenly soft grass. He can hear birds sing and animals rustle the bushes as they run past. He walks through the trees. There's almost every kind of tree. A palm tree next to a pine tree next to a red wood. A forest of colors.

There's more unity within the plants as Simon reaches his home. There are gardens of vegetables and flowers on either side of him. The stones scattered on the ground get closer until they form a path up to the front door of the giant tree-home.

A large woman with a hardly noticeable glow around her waters her sunflowers. She has long, blue hair that's wavy like the ocean waves. Lilies are placed throughout her locks and crown made of golden leaves sits on her head. Her skin is tan like the sand with freckles scattered across.

She notices her son out of the corner of her eye. Her big, long extravagant green dress with roses cascading down the back swishes as she stands up and faces him. Leaves and vines twist around the dress.

"Simon, darling, what are you doing here?" she wonders.

"I kind of burnt my arm." he answers meekly, holding out his reddened arm. His mother's dirt brown eyes study the scarring with care.

"How?"

"Long story." Simon shrugs. Simon isn't one for lying so he normally avoids the question all together.

"Simon..." Her soft pink lips frown. Simon is too much of momma's boy.

"..." He sighs. He's not sure how his mother will react to him hanging around Josh. "I was messing around with Josh and he accidentally hurt me." he admits.

"And why was that so hard to tell me?" Vines crawl across her arm, down to his hand as she wraps the green string around the red mark.

"Because, mother, I didn't think you would like to hear that me and Josh were hanging out."

"Oh honey." She laughs. "I don't disapprove of you two being friends; in fact I encourage it. After all, one day you and Josh will be taking me and Death's place and it's important you two are able to get along and work together." she explains. "I do advise you to be careful of course. We don't need you getting anymore injuries. And it's well known that Joshua isn't the most social of people."

Mother Nature taps her son's nose. He smiles as a result.

"Thank you, mother. For being so supportive." Simon says wholeheartedly.

"You're welcome. I admire your passion for wanting to make friends."

"I learned it from the sweetest." Simon sheepishly smiles. He picks an Iris and hands it to his mother who takes it and holds it close to her chest.

Simon reenters his school's territory. The sun sets low, the moon more than halfway up. Simon hurries to JJ's dorm to reassure his worried friend that he's okay and there's no need for violence.

Simon knocks on JJ's door. The door instantly swings open.

"Oh bless the heavens you're okay!" JJ engulfs Simon in a bone-crushing hug. "What happened to you? Wait, what happened to you?" He notices Simon's arm.

"I tripped rushing over here and got almost a scrape on the concrete." Simon lies. And surprisingly well too.

"Oh.." JJ nods, believing him.

"So I went to my mom and she fixed me right up!" Simon nudges past JJ in his room. JJ watches him walk to the couch. He knows his friend well enough to tell he's lying by how stiff his walk is. JJ feels he must protect Simon. Before things get out of hand.