The Real Monsters

Chapter 2: Sireli

      I let out a soft sigh, pushing my apple green hair out of my eyes, then pulling my hair tie out of my hair. I stretched the soft elastic a couple times, then replaced my last ponytail. I then moved to bring my mother her medicine, a soft frown on my face. I only wanted to go to the garden, the only place I felt free, especially from mother. My grandmother had always insisted that I treat my mother well, to bring her all she needed, but I didn't see why I had to help her, she was almost dead. Maybe it was because I was so very young compared to my peers, I acted childish. Yet, I was just intelligent. Mostly because I knew about plants, more so than most adults in my small farming community. But, as I knew, was far more educated in the study of plants than most of those older than me. As I grew, to the sharp age of ten as I was now, I noticed only I could really hear them. The voices of the plants, the beauty of nature, and other small clues.

     As I pulled up my red overalls, I made sure it was well fitted before entering my mother's room. She was stern and mean, and frankly I didn't like her very much. I would mind if she was replaced by one of my flowers. As I learned about monsters in school, I came to the quick realization that I was indeed a monster. One that grow plants on will, but I only grew flowers. I could almost understand them, it was if the spoke with nothing. I just understood what they said without having to hear. I wish it was lk,e that with mother, because maybe then I would be around her more, and she would want to be around me. I set down the tray, as soft, frail hands reached for it, I left the room. 

     I wouldn't mind if she choked on those pills. 

     I stepped down the hall, then down the stairs, a soft grin on my face as it was time to visit my garden. I stepped out the small cramped house into open fields. I frowned slightly, a large field that separated my garden from my small home. I hated crossing that field, I knew if my mother let me it could be beautiful. She always told me my fascination with plants, and talking aloud to them was wrong. And then she got sick, and when she died, I would be able to do whatever I want to the field. I smiled, a grim one, as children would often be saddened by their mother being sick, but not me. I was thrilled, almost happy. 

     I wasn't mentally sick, but over the years I grew to hate my mother. Mostly because she hated me first, or if she felt any affection towards me, she didn't show it. She berated me with hateful words, because she knew I was a monster. She would scream at me, telling me that if she had known my father was a monster, she would have turned him in before she had me. I was a freak. I was disgusting. I was a mistake. But she couldn't yell at me anymore, her frail frame would always shiver when I stepped in the room. Even when she was deadly ill, she still hated me. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't even notice I was at the garden. I smiled, and began to look at the variety of flowers. Most of the people in town where amazed that I could seem to grown anything in th garden. Any flower, any plant, any crop. I just had to have a know how of the flower, and I just thought about it while looking at the soil. After focusing for a few seconds, the flower would just grow. 

     The first time I grew a flower had been a amazing sight, I was overjoyed to be able to create the things I loved. I began to cram my head with books about flowers, growing more and more. But I had a favorite, the first flower I had ever grown. I smiled, seeing its soft purple petals, as it was a lilac. I loved it the most became my name meant, "little lilac." I though it was perfect, and beautiful in every way. The flower was my favorite, and I talked to it the most. I stepped toward it reaching my hand out to softly to brush the petal. 

     "Hello," I said, closing my eyes. I listened softly, "No, she's not dead yet. It will happen soon."

     I knew I looked crazy, but I didn't care. I loved to talk to these flowers, a soft smile covered my face. 

     "I know, I know, I'll give them attention now, we don't anyone getting jealous," I said, to seemingly no one.

     As I walked around the colorful garden, I softly touched the leaves and petals of the flowers around me, and I watched as the torn leaves, wilted petals, and dying plants became whole and fresh once more. I was especially happy to see all my flowers young and gorgeous once more, in fact it filled me with a joy unmatched. I suddenly heard a soft snap of a twig, and I snatched my hand away from the flower I was touching, its wilted leaves only halfway healed. I turned my head, looking to see who was in the garden now.

      "Did we scare you?" Jackson said.

      "Only slightly," I said, turning my head back to my flower. It was only the neighborhood boys, the ones who had farms here as well. I was more like a boy than I had ever been a girl, so I hung around them and they where my friends. It was a weekday, but school wasn't open today, there's had been a flood. A inconvenience to all the adults, but with me and my friends, it would be a great day.

      And then there was Jackson. His strong build, even for someone in middle school, was impressive. He had soft blue eyes and dark hair, a soft black. He wore a flannel button-up and a pair of jeans. I thought he looked amazing in it, but I thought he looked good in everything. I was surrounded by a group of guys, so it only made sense I would like one of them, and it was obvious that I would like the ring leader, who happened to be Jackson. 

     "Wow, the garden keeps looking better Ser," Jackson said, and that sent shivers down my spine. He then turned to me and smiled, "Come on Ser, we are going to explore the woods again today."

      "Sure, let's go Jack," I said. Both him and I had nicknames for each other, which everyone else  had picked up from us. I was Ser, he was Jack. I followed the group, leading it right behind jack, and I straightened my red overalls. I thought it went well with my pastel green hair and eyes, and a white undershirt did it justice. It was my favorite outfit, and I wore it as often as I could. I then stepped into the warm air of the forest, enjoying the breeze.

     "Let's go guys, we can see what we can find," I said. I then stepped out into the soft, mossy floor and began to walk, the sounds of leaves and sticks crunching beneath me. "Jack, what direction are we going," I yelled out. 

     "I don't know you decide Ser" he yelled back. I had to think for only a second.

     "Northwards all the way," I said, and he laughed.

     "You always want to go North, and you need to stop using such big words, it's too much for a farm boy like me," he said, and I couldn't tell if he was teasing me.

     "Don't say that Jack, you are smart," I said, my lips pressed together firmly. While we talked, the boy behind us where talking and laughing, knowing to leave us to lead them to our spot of the day before they even started to flak to us. It sounded rude, but they all where lazy and didn't want to help us navigate. I then followed Jack into a large clearing, filled with flowers, plants, a creek. It was so peaceful, yet we could do almost anything we wanted out here. It was already noon, so Jack to us to my favorite shaded area. It was a bit away from the clearing, but I was glad to sit down. 

     I sat down with a soft thud, and stretched my arms and legs. I then yawned, and blinked my eyes sleepily. 

     "So Ser, I heard someone in the group likes you, you really have to beat the other guys off with a stick," he said, laughing slightly. He just loved to tease me.

     "Yeah," I said, gulping down a lump in my throat. I hate talking about crushed with Jackson, as I wanted to tell him badly about the way I felt. "Who is it exactly," I said, looking up at him. My spot was under a willow tree, and he was facing the clearing, his back turned to me. He stood at the edge of the willows drooping branches, holding them open so he could see the other boy clearly. He dropped his arm, the willow covering both of us, he turned to face me and opened him mouth.

     "Me," he said.