The Cure

XII

A couple of days later, after most of the commotion from the factory riot has settled down, I'm sitting on the back steps when suddenly my eyes go wide at something I'd nearly forgotten. Something important.

The plant.

I stand up and, as calmly as possible, to divert Ofelia's attention, walk in the house to my room and then, when I'm entirely alone, throw open the closet door and dive into the deepest, farthest crevice possible.

It's still there. But it's not the same. It's different. The way it droops...and the color; it's not as green any more but sort of brown. As if someone had taken a vacuum and sucked the color out of it a tiny bit.

At first I'm confused and then I become frantic. What have I done? Is it dead? I gave it water and I don't know if it needs food but I sprinkled a few bread crumbs and scrambled egg pieces around the top. It looks awful really, now that I think about it.

I don't know why I feel such an urge to keep it alive. I don't truly know if it's living or dead but if it's going to grow, well...maybe it will hatch into something. The leaves will open up and something will pop out...do plants do that? I wonder sometimes where the squirrels and birds come from...

Stupid. What a brainless girl! Of course nothing's going to be 'born' from it. Most likely it's a tree. A little tree and keeping it in a pot is containing it's root growth and that's why it's wilting.

Duh.

Still...

Okay! Time to get out of the house. I shove the plant back into my closet and shut the doors decidedly. I will not be bothered by this. I've got more important things to worry about. I sigh. Like finding wanted runaways. Right. That's much easier than trying to feed and hatch a tree.

After I slip on something grey (naturally) and warm I head to the kitchen for some breakfast, which by the way usually is noodles but Ofelia's decided I'm not to eat them anymore.

"Why not?" I ask upon entering the room. I glance over the counter and see Ofelia in her usual spot upon the couch eating what looks like shredded bark. "Besides, it's cheap. Probably been around forever. Everyone eats noodles. Everyone plus the puritans."

"Well, they might've ate it but look what happened to them."

"So that's what happened to you!" I grin crookedly. Ofelia laughs. She likes her witchy reputation. "Oh, and by the way...what are you eating today? Decided to forget your liquid poison and eat bark instead?"

"It's rather tasty...want some?" She holds out a spoonful and it's soggy, dripping with milk and I almost gag. So much for bark. It looks more like...

I spin around to the fridge. "Did you use all the milk on...that?"

"Yep."

"Are there any eggs?"

"Went rotten."

"What? They usually last a few months! What's with that?"

"They were different this time."

I don't even ask.

"You know what," I say, "I'm not so hungry anymore. I think I'll go to town for a bit."

"To see Griffin?" Ofelia questions through a mouth full.

Blast. I didn't even tell her. I can't.

"Yeah, maybe. He's been kinda busy lately." How ironic. "I'll probably check on him tomorrow. You know, so I don't bother him to soon since I saw him last."

"Good idea. How's his mother?"

Dear heavens above. His mother!

"Good. I've gotta go...see you soon. I grab my canvas bag and give Ofelia a quick peck on the cheek before heading outside.