It took a while to remember; before this point, I never really took an interest in how each individual human looked. But during that night, when Gryce's father and I came home, it came to me that the person still lying on the dirt was the same person who came by yesterday. The man who said, "They'll be gone soon"
At first, I was doubting myself; I mean, the only people I truly knew were this family. But there was a routine of people who came by their house, and at the beginning of this cycle, he didn't show up. Not many people came by that day, but there was a lot of noise. Specifically toward the far right of town, but the strangest thing that happened was. That morning, no one left the house; in fact, during all the commotion, they were talking.
Making sure no one was looking, I reeled myself up to the window above. After I planted myself to the side, I peered inside and listened.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing, why the hell should I do anything? I got it done, and that's it".
"You know this won't be the end of it. These people already didn't like us; guilty or not, we'll be the first ones they accuse."
"Let them!".
"Let them… listen to yourself. Forget what you just did; with what's going on around here, it's only a matter of time until one of them thinks we started this fucking plague!".
"It's not a plague".
"What else can you call it, Allen! Nothing's growing, grass is dying, and the only thing with color out there is that damn flower! It's been three weeks and nothing! If we need to leave, we need to decide now".
"We're not leaving, end of discussion!".
"Don't just decide for yourself. If we kept quiet and let them say what they want, eventually they would have left us alone!".
"He threatened our family! Should I have just let him run his mouth?".
"Yes!".
"That's not how this works, Liz! If we let every person here run their mouth, then in a few weeks they would have gone after Gryce! I'm not letting that happen".
"You don't know that!".
"You're right, I don't, but the fact that I even have to consider it is what scares me. If they think we did it, let them! If whatever's happening now continues, then everyone will have a bigger problem than this!. Besides, I don't think anyone will mind him being gone".
"I don't like it".
"I know, and I'm sorry. I didn't want it to come to this. I had no other choice. I'll make sure nothing happens, I promise".
The two went back and forth throughout the day, but I didn't see Gryce once. You'd think with the conversation being so centered around him, he'd be around to say his piece, but no.
I wrapped around the house where I thought Gryce's room was, and after making a full circle around, I found him. He huddled in the corner of his room, in the dark. Papers were scattered across the room, and his bag, which he usually carried in the morning, leaned against the door.
Even with the sunlight, only small parts of his room were lit. If it wasn't for his bright orange shirt, I wouldn't have noticed him, but since I did, I felt like I had to do something. He was the entire reason I took an interest in humans. Whether he knew it or not, he gave me a purpose in an otherwise vast world I had no place in. If I didn't take a risk, then how could I in good faith say I tried to understand them? I was scared, but I decided nonetheless. Slowly, giving myself time to reconsider, I used my roots to open the window and went inside.
Steadying myself across the room, I reeled myself towards the object nearest to him. Even I realize the prospect of a flower being able to move on its own, so I made it my priority not to scare him. Though chances are, he's going to be just as scared as I was, no matter what I did. Without anymore doubt, I extended one root down and brushed his cheek. For the first time, I spoke out loud, and I realized my voice was much deeper than I expected.
"Hello," Is all I said.
Gryce looked up at me with tearful eyes, but didn't say anything.
"My name is *****".
He turned his head sideways.
"My name is *****".
Well, that's strange.
My name seemed unspeakable. No matter how many times I repeated it, it came out scrambled. Even to me, it was incomprehensible, but I had a name, I knew I did, but it wouldn't come out. No, that was wrong too. I thought I had a name, I never even considered the idea that I didn't, but saying it out loud, how could I? As far as I knew, there was nothing in this world that knew what I was. Without a name, what was I? I needed to stop. This wasn't about me; I needed to help Gryce, but how could I? It's because of last night that I was thinking about this. Without it, I would have been fine; I would have gone through this without thinking. Why couldn't I stop panicking? Why was I so scared?
"You're that flower," Gryce said.
"I am".
"And you can talk?".
"I can".
"Why?".
"I don't know".
"Where did you come from?".
"I don't know".
"Why are you here?".
"I… Want to help you".
"Why?".
"I don't know".
"What do you know?".
"Nothing. But I know that I want to help you anyway".
"Why me?".
"Because without this, I have no purpose in existing".
"I don't understand".
"I don't either".
We found a mutual agreement in our naivety. The entire reason I came was because I wanted help, but at that moment, I pleaded for one thing and one thing only. I asked for a name.
"You don't know have a name?"
"At one point, but I forgot it. I feel incomplete".
"But, I don't know any names".
"You know yours, right?".
"You want my name?".
"Do you want it?".
"No… not right now".
"Then may I have it?".
"You can do that?".
"You can do anything if you put your mind to it! I'm a talking flower; I'm the embodiment of this belief. As far as I know, you can do anything." Gryce paused for a moment.
"Are you really here to help me?".
"Of course! I know nothing besides this. My only directive was this town from the moment I was unearthed. That's how I found you, Gryce".
"You know my name?".
"Yes! I've been watching you and your family. And I know you all need help. Give me your name, and I will mend whatever grief you all hold. My roots will fix everything, this I guarantee".
"You promise?".
"I promise".
"Okay.".
And so I was given the name Gryce and took over his life. With my roots in his belly and my stem in his brain, I became a Blooming Flower untethered from even the Earth. With one goal only, to mend this family's grief. To fulfill my promise and live in peace. However, I would never receive such a blessing, as this decision sealed my fate. As I opened my eyes in the body of the boy, leaving my wilted corpse, a flower no longer brandished by the sun.