The White Tulip (Symbolism Of My Feelings)

Unfinished work

Honey

I headed downstairs, in search of some ice cream, knowing it couldn't possibly heal my broken heart, though it just might help soothe it.

And after retrieving a quart from the freezer, I encircled it in my arms and reached for a spoon, then the whole thing crashed to the ground when I heard a voice say: "So touching, Honey. So very, very touching."

I bent over, squeezing the toes that got nailed by a quart of Vanilla Swiss Almond, as I gaped at a perfectly turned-out Krystal, legs crossed, hands folded, a proper lady seated right there on my seat.

"So cute how you called out for Myungsoo after conjuring that chaste little love scene in your head." She laughed, her eyes grazing over me. "Ah, yes, I can still see inside your head. Your little psychic shield? Thin, I'm afraid. Anyway, as far as you and L and your happily ever after, and after, and after?" She shook her head. "Well, you know I can't let that happen. As it turns out, my life's work has been destroying you, and little do you know; I still can."

''Your partner is not with you, I see.'' I noticed.

Krystal frowned. ''She died. Because of the light that struck us back to the woods, remember?''

I could recall the setting when the shiny presence took me to Foreverland. I looked at her baffled. How did she manage to survive if her cousin passed away? How was me not having even a cut possible when the two suffered? I made an effort not to reveal the scene of me entering the hardly-known land.

''I somehow escape from it, with less damage, and Hyuna.'' She heaved a small sigh. ''She forgot to drink her red beverage. I assume you know what that is.'' She smirked at me for a brief moment, after that her grin faded away. ''I reminded her to drink every two hours but she didn't listen and told me she would be fine. Well, of course, she wasn't.'' The girl placed her hands on the waist with a desperate expression on her face. ''You think it's pretty simple to be immortal. How wrong you are.''

I gazed at her, concentrating on my breath, keeping it slow and steady; while I tried to clear my mind of all incriminating thought, knowing she'd only use it against me. But the thing was, trying to clear your mind is about as effective as telling someone not to think about elephants, from that moment on that's all they'll think about.

"Elephants? Really?" She groaned a low evil sound that vibrated the room. "My God, what does he see in you?" Her eyes raked over me, filled with disdain. "Certainly not your intellect or wit, since we've yet to see any evidence it exists. And your idea of a love scene? So Disney, so Family Channel, so dreadfully boring. Really, Honey, may I remind you that L's been around for hundreds of years, including the free-love sixties?" She raised her eyebrow at me.

"If you're looking for L, he's not here." I finally said, my voice scratchy, hoarse, like it hadn't been used for days.

She lifted her brow. "Trust me, I know where he is. I always know where Myungsoo is. It's what I do."

"So you're a stalker." I pressed my lips together, knowing I shouldn't antagonize her, but hey; I have nothing to lose. Either way; she's here to kill me.

She twisted her lips and held up her hand, inspecting her perfectly manicured nails. "Hardly." She mumbled.

"Well, if that's how you've chosen to spend the last three hundred years, then some might say-"

"More like six hundred, you dreadful little troll, six hundred years." She looked me over and scowled.

Six hundred years? Was she serious?

She rolled her eyes and stood. ''You mortals, so dull, so stupid, so predictable, so ordinary. And yet, despite all your obvious defects, you always seem to inspire L to feed the hungry; serve mankind, fight poverty; save the whales, stop littering, recycle, meditate for peace, just say no to drugs, alcohol, big spending, and just about everything else that's worthwhile, one horribly boring altruistic pursuit after another. And for what? Do you ever learn? Hello! Global warming! Apparently not. And yet, and yet, somehow L and I always seem to get through it, though it can take far too long to deprogram him, return him to the lusty, hedonistic, greedy, indulgent Myungsoo I know and love. Though believe me, this is just another little detour, and before you know it, we'll be back on top of the world again."