She’s beautiful.

Her intoxicating laughter, the blue vines, and flowers exploding from her similar hair irradiate joy.

He can only watch, yellow skin tinted with pink, his own vines, and flowers motionless with wonder.

Then she’s reaching out, eyes clamped shut in joy.


The next time she’s screaming.
Her vines have been ripped out, dirt smeared on her face and pouring from the wounds like blood.
Her hand has been melted, her blue and his yellow mixing into a toxic green.

She’s shaking, her eyes rolling back into her head, yet still, flinch away from his touch.
Terrified, he flees.

He’s ruined her.


The final time they meet, she’s older.

She looks at him, a sad smile on her own wrinkle lined face.

She holds out her hand, reminiscing to when they first met.

He grasps her wrist gently, and she smiles.

She fades, dust spreading across the setting sun.

She’s happy.

He’s sure.

He turns, sinking into the earth.

It’s both of their times.

Goodbye… He whispers.