It hasn’t even been 24 hours...
My heart aches from the fresh trauma. My dry eyes have cried out every last tear.
He’s dead.
This is real. I’m in a nightmare that’s my life. I can’t escape. I’m frozen in this moment.
Grave stones surround me. Chills of gilt tremble down my spine as I stare down at him. I stare down at his grave. At the place I put him.
Ravishing roses lay atop of his dusty grave. White rose petals are sprinkled around the soil. I drop to my knees and sigh.
“I’m sorry.” I coke out. I hold soil in my hands. It falls through the spaces between my fingers. “You weren’t supposed to get hurt. I’m so sorry.” The rest of the earthy soil drops to its rightful place on the ground.
A strong hand finds my shoulder. I glance up and smile a weary smile.
“Sweetie, this isn’t your fault.” Nevaeh’s hunter green eyes are pink and puffy.
“If I hadn’t loved both of them then he wouldn't be six feet under. This is my fault and there isn’t anything anyone can do to change that.” I lift myself off the ground and brush the dirt off my knees.
“Faith…” Her arms wrap around me. “There was nothing you could do. Nothing any of us could do. Demetri wanted him dead. He wanted to kill him just like he killed Julian, Scarlett’s boyfriend. He had his mind made up. There was nothing we could have done to change it.”
“If I never liked Damian, Demetri wouldn’t have killed him. If I never became the Sunflower Keeper, then my mom wouldn’t be dying. Can’t you see?! This whole situation is my fault.” I squeeze her tightly and pull away. “I think… I think I just need some time. I need to think. I need to be alone. ” I walk out of the cemetery.
***
The trees sway with the wind. My navy blue hair flies into my face. I pull into a braid.
My feet carry me farther and farther away from the problem-filled world. Leaves and branches crunch under my feet. The wind follows me. It urges me to follow it. Uncertainty bubbles inside.
“This is just great. Everyone is either dead or has been hurt because of me. Maybe I should stop trying to be the solution when I’m the problem.” I cross my arms and pause in front of an engraved oak.
My eyes widen.
Impossible.
Sunflowers are carved into the tree’s bark. The names of every past sunflower keeper circle the trunk of the tree. My hand finds the end of the list. I smile at the sight of my mother’s and my name side by side.
“The sanctuary must be close by.” I step around the tree as an old, iron fence comes into view. Vines wrap themselves around the fence like they have a case of separation anxiety. Sunflowers relax next to the gate.
YOU ARE READING
The Sunflower Keeper
FantasyFaith has finally come of age, and her future will be decided for her. She has to navigate her nerves and her new life while trying to figure out love and who's trying to kill her. She's not perfect, and she knows that. The people she meets and lose...
