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❝let the gentle bush dig its root deep
and spread upward to split one boulder.❞
— carl sandburg
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❝let the gentle bush dig its root deep
and spread upward to split one boulder.❞
— carl sandburg
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- xxxxxyou came to the florist's to see her.
xxxxxthe young lady who ran the shop was an enigma in your mind. you passed by every day, as she waved at you with a small smile, and you've always waved back. you never spoke -- just waved. today, you were going to find out who she was.
xxxxx"welcome!" rang out a soft voice. the rain pattered down on the rooftops, and the sound of piano came from an old radio. the kalon was working on an arrangement for the display window. "how can i help you out today?" she didn't look at you, as she was too absorbed with the bright colors in front of her.
you asked if you could buy some carnations.
xxxxx"sure thing!" she said, whirling around. she smiled at you. "oh, hello! i don't know if we've formerly met before, but --" she waved at you "-- i sure do recognize you!" she giggled. "i'm kyri. what's your name?" you introduced yourself, blushing at her overly kind embrace. there was something slightly overbearing about her, yet there wasn't any malicious intent in her voice.
xxxxx"oh, that's a lovely name. it's so nice that you finally stopped by, you know, since i figured we were sort of acquaintances. i-i mean, at least, i thought you'd be friendly," kyri said, with a blush, "since you wave at me every morning, and, oh... i've rambled myself into a corner, haven't i?" she sighed and shook her head, as if this was a common occurrence, walking off to get flowers for you.
xxxxxyou watched her put together a simple bouquet -- pale pink carnations with their stems long and firm were placed in a little bundle. kyri was fast and efficient, making sure it was in pristine shape.
xxxxxas she worked, you made small talk. you mentioned how the rain was making you feel down. "i know how you feel, but the rain brings growth, at least," she said. "it helps us thrive. sunshine isn't the only thing a little bud needs, after all." kyri wrapped a ribbon around your bouquet. she messed up once, grumbling at her mistake, but managed to make a suitable bow at last. "here you are!"
xxxxxyou took your flowers and bid the shopkeeper farewell. there was something about her; something... strange, perhaps.
xxxxxbut it was something that was filled with warmth, too.
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❝love has power in it. at the end, it wins over all miseries.❞
― debasish mridha
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❝love has power in it. at the end, it wins over all miseries.❞
― debasish mridha
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xxxxxif you'd ask kyrielle who she is, she wouldn't really be able to tell you.
xxxxxshe knows how her life began. her mother always told her the story. mother loved the greek gods, and told stories of their interactions with humankind. however, one of mother's stories was different. instead of fitting in with the ancient times, it told a much more recent tale.
xxxxxher mother was a storyteller. before bed, as a child, the girl would happily bounce along and sit down in the covers, awaiting a story. perhaps she was less adjusted and more susceptible to lies, but she had never quite grown up in spirit. her tail fanned out behind her as she curled up. "can you tell me a story about the gods, mother? they're always the most fun!"
xxxxxher mother would laugh. "okay, love. here's a story about hera -- and, a story about you." kyri's eyes lit up as the woman's sweet, croaking voice filled the air. "in a quiet, lonely town..."
xxxxxan old lady lived alone. her husband had recently passed, and she missed him so very much. they never had any children of their own, but the old lady always wished for a little girl of her own. instead, the couple took care of a garden. the flowers were their pride and joy, and they shared that joy with the world.
xxxxxwhen the old lady's husband died, the garden died with him.
xxxxxafter everything withered away, she stepped back outside to see their past joy's grave. however, she decided to plant one last seed: one last testament of love. she buried it deep in the soil, and as she knelt to the ground to water it, she wept.
xxxxx"hera, goddess of life," she begged, "please let me overcome this loneliness."
xxxxxthe goddess heard her prayer, and swept down from the heavens in the dead of the night. her lithe feet barely touched the ground as she carried herself through that empty garden. the goddess stood before the seed that had been planted in the morning. she thought for a moment, deciding what to do, before placing a peacock feather on the mound of soil. it had fallen from her heavenly chariot, and she bestowed it upon the ground as a gift.
xxxxx"let your heart know peace, my friend."
xxxxxthe next morning, the old woman walked into the garden's remains. the seed she had planted was still there, but it was in a much different form. it intertwined with hera's feather, and it turned itself into a young kalon kit. the girl was covered in shades of blue and purple, and little plants trailed down her shoulders.
xxxxxthe little girl looked nothing like her. her old bones were aching, and her pelt was covered in shades of brown, but she knew that the child needed to be protected by someone. at last, the old woman said: "my daughter."
xxxxx"and that, kyrielle, is how you came to be," said mother, with a soft smile. she motioned to her cane, and kyri brought it to her. "someday, instead of importing all of these here flowers... hera will help you to grow a garden of your own. you are a gift from her."
xxxxxkyri always laughed. "mother, that's impossible. kits don't come from flowers!" however, her appearance told a different story. "or, well... most don't. anyways," she said, with a yawn, "goodnight, mother."
xxxxxthe moon rose as the tiny gift from the goddess fell asleep.
xxxxx(1000 words)
