Ruler Of The Moon Flowers (Short Story)

Everything Under the Moon

This town...I'm blind from tears as I run. I run from the funeral of my malevolent father and my grandmother's disappointed, veiled eyes. I run until my lungs are burning and my legs want to give out. Anywhere is better than there, anywhere. I have no idea where I'm going but at this point it doesn't matter. I can't spend another second looking at a man who, who-

"Eyes as silver as the moon, voice that makes my heart swoon. I don't know where to run to, but I know one day I'll find you." Her voice was alluring. It sounded as sweet as honey, light as a feather and as mysterious as the dark side of the moon. I need to find her. I followed the voice desperately; it got louder and louder until I reached a field of flowers glowing under the crescent moon. I couldn't see her anywhere though her voice was all around me. Reluctantly I began to walk away from the forest with the white mystical flowers.

"They're moonflowers, " the girl said. I turned around in shock that instantly became awe as I helplessly stared at her. Her caramel skin glowed under the moonlight. I didn't know her at all but I sensed quirkiness from her bright rainbow cardigan and rainbow shoes. Her flower crown placed proudly on her head as if she was the ruler of the moonflowers.

"they bloom at night; it's like their midnight sun. "

"Th-that makes sense. "I stuttered

She looked at me and smiled. "Your eyes are beautiful ; they're the same color as the moon. "

I blushed. "what color are your eyes? "

"They're black; sometimes eyes aren't the window to the soul... "

I thought about dad's pure blue eyes and agreed.

"Lay with me." She said.

I laid next to the strange girl for a long while. Our eyes succumbed to the beauty of the stars. Sneakily I would glance at her from my peripheral, at least until she noticed and I quickly look away.

"Lost or Found. " she broke the silence.

"What?" I asked confused.

"If you run to a flower field you're either trying to get lost or be found."

I thought about her question. "I was originally trying to get lost from uh this funeral, but then I was trying to find the singing I heard."

"Well you found me, " she giggled, now facing me.

"I'm glad I did" I blushed embarrassed from the small confession that meant so much to me. I changed the subject. "What about you, lost or found? "

She immediately answered. "Found."

"Who found you?"

"The moon found me. I guess that's why my name is Amaris; it means child of the moon. The moon is the only family I have ever had...and I found you of course. What's your name again? "

"it's Aiden. "

She smiled. "that's a beautiful name Aiden."

"You're beautiful." I'm shocked by my boldness. It's now her turn to blush.

I change the subject again, "Why are you so trusting? I mean what if I was here to kill you? "

"Are you going to kill me? " she asked.

I shifted uncomfortably, "uh no but how would you know that?"

She laid back on her back, "you're aura."

"Aura?"

She laughed as if it was all so simple.

"An aura is the energy living things give off. You're aura is very calm. Though you do seem tense and sad."

I shrug. "Probably just the funeral they make everyone sad, you've been to one right?"

"No, I don't have a family."

"You don't have a family?" I squeaked, "how do you live?"

She turned her head towards me in such a relaxed way it made me relax instantly, "you see Aiden, this forest provides anything I could need. I had a family once but they didn't want me so I found the moon and the stars who love me more than anyone could ever. Do you understand that? "

"No", I answered honestly, "I wish I did though."

"It's okay to not understand."

We went through another peaceful silence.

"Whose funeral was it? The mayor's right?" she remembered what I said earlier.

"yeah... My dad."

"I'm sorry." she whispered.

"Don't be," I practically growled, "He killed my mom." Did I just say that?

"How? "

"Beat her senseless. She got ran over trying to run away. "

"You're nothing like him Aiden. I know that's what you think."
She was right I did think that, until now.

"I know it's just... She's gone Amaris. " I begin to cry into her. I haven't cried since my mom died or my dad died but right now in this moment. Everything changed. She was here and she was my everything under the moon.

"Aiden... don't cry love. "

She pressed her lips to mine and we kissed passionately. Our lips danced wildly like her, softly like me. Our bodies in rhythm protruding young love. She held me and I held her back not wanting it to end at all. I wanted it to last forever.

Unfortunately, it was my last day in Texas. Once she was asleep I ran. This time from the death of could be love and Amaris' tender, sleeping body. Now when I see a moonflower, I will only see Amaris. I will only see those black eyes that hid her beautiful soul. I will see the memories of the only kiss that will ever matter to me in flashes like an old cartoon. This town...