Magnoliophyta

4. THE LIBERATED

The sight before me rattled my whole being and existence. I was entering paradise. Before me stood a world of pleasure, happiness, hope, love, co-existence, optimism, brightness .... and the list could go on and on. Flowers , plants and vines filled the place with springing joy and positivity. The light felt warm and welcoming rather than harsh and simply illuminating as we experience it today. This place was calling me , It's signal was as obvious to me as it is obvious to you when you hear the ringing of a bell that indicates the end of school or the arrival of an ice cream van. (depend on what wish for!) There were tiny cottages lined up in the most absurd places with people moving around buzzing with excitement. One word for all of this: Magical.

Well, I think I have given you a pretty accurate description of what was held beyond the floral Doorway. But... here's the catch, have you ever had your hopes shattered and crushed with a loud resonating echo like the crumbling of glass into a million pieces, due to the vast gap between your expectation and reality? If you haven't had such an experience, I'd say you are one lucky and fortunate person. On the other hand if you have experienced this, congratulations!!! we are in the same league. 

So... Why did I mention all this? Isn't it obvious, I got my hopes shattered! and not just shattered they were stomped and crushed into nothing but a speck of dirt.

All the tempting stuff you read before was what I expected. It was my imagination. It was what I hoped and wished for. The reality.... not so tempting.

The view that I wished for, was long gone. I had to come to terms with the reality. Ok so, let's start over shall we?

The sight before me rattled my whole being and existence. What I saw was nothing like paradise. What once might have been a prosperous and flourishing place, was now reduced to rubble. Plants, flowers, trees , vines, creepers, grass.... everything had lost its beauty, they were just dried and withered pieces of roots, stems and leaves. There were dainty little cottages everywhere, each one frowning with a wrinkled brow of negligence. Their dusty and shabby appearance indicated lack of inhabitation. Gloom and silence filled the air . The sight made me tremble and quiver with despair and hopelessness and I knew then and there if I spent some more time over there, my state of mind would be reduced to insanity.

"Jade? ,You feel it, don't you. The despair and hopelessness of all of this", whispered Jared.

"Yeah, how did this happen?" "What is this place?" "Why are we here... why am I here?", I gasped and let out a torrent of words between short breathless pants.

"Welcome to Magnoliophyta, the once beautiful and spirited land. Our home." , Lil and Jared replied in unison. I could sense a hint of longing and despair when they spoke. I could feel there profound sadness. 

"Magnoliophyta, what a wonderful name. Doesn't it mean 'flowering plants?'"I said trying to sound optimistic.

"Yes, I am glad you know what it means because that is exactly what this land holds", replied Lil.

"What do you mean by "that is exactly what this land holds" ? I still don't know what this place is or where we are or why I am here in the first place."I said.

"hey, calm down we'll answer all you questions" said Jared reassuringly. 

 "let me start by answering your first question; As you correctly mentioned the meaning of Magnoliophyta, that is flowering plants, this land is the land of flowers and actually all species of plants. I know this sounds kiddish and extremely kindergarten- ish,  but it's the truth and I am very serious. You must have learnt in school that plants are living things just like humans, with their own processes and food synthesis mechanism. But have you ever wondered that when we use the term 'living things' for plants, it might have a meaning that is on a whole different level?"

"huh?"

"What I mean is that it's meaning could be more diversified and enlarged to fit in the fact that plants could be like humans and vice-versa"

"what are you blabbering?"

"Ok, let's take Lil as an example here, she is a Tulip."

"Come on, you need to consult a doctor or at least take professional help."

"Hey, I am serious!... Ok well, not exactly a tulip. Try to understand it like this, if tulips evolved like humans did, from monkeys, then the evolved tulip is Lil, her essence is primarily a tulip. And people like Lil protect the flowers whose essence they are made up of. There is a whole clan of people like Lil. They are known as 'The Liberated' .Their first and foremost task is to protect nature... or at least what's left of it."

"Ok... weirdness overdose!! but I think I get it. So, what's the deal with this ghastly place?"

"We can chat later tonight ok? right now let's go meet the others."

With that being said we made our way into the depths of Magnoliophyta and I had embarked on a journey where I had no idea what our destination would behold.