“We can do this together.”
The deer looks at me in awe.
“Daffodil.” I say as she looks at me in confusion. “I thought it was about time you got a name.”
I swore she smiled at me. “You like that? Daffodil?” And she nodded in agreement, her sweet and gentle eyes still looking at me.
Buildings started to appear around us, buildings like I had never seen them before. Huge pillars in a palette of pale stone surrounded us. Old statues in stone, capturing wonderful looking women.
Vines were working their way up the pillars, circling them as a paint stroke. Everything looked perfect, old, yet so captivating. And it didn’t take long before I could spot grapes, grapes that were sitting along the vines.
I let my hand reach for the dark red fruit that could also be seen as a berry. Biting into the sweet flesh, the juice sweeps around my tongue, and the relief of finally finding some food washes over me.
“You want one, Daffodil?” I ask, plucking one for her either way since she can’t talk.
I’ve always wondered why some of our animalscantalk and somecan’t. Is it a curse? Or was it something else that caused it?
“Hi, excuse me.” A female voice spoke near me.
I turned around, mouth full with grapes. “Hmm?”
“Oh, are you hungry?” Her face held a soft and caring expression. Not even a glimpse of judgement showing through. “And are you okay?” She asked, looking me up and down, seeing the blood all over me.
“Sorry, yes.” I answer, rubbing my hands over my hips.
The girl had violet eyes, shining with life and sunlight. Her apple cheeks were rosy, and her long auburn hair was put into a beautiful hairstyle. Her dress was white, encased in a shimmer of light green and purple. It had room for her full chest to breathe freely and lingered down her hips.
“I’m Illysia.” Her smile becomes brighter and her hand reaches forward.
“Genevieve.” I smile back at her.
“Would you like me to get the blood out of your hair?” She put her hair behind her ears.
“I.. I don’t have any coins, I’m sorry.”
“No, I don’t want money. I saw you from afar and you looked like you could enjoy being taken a little care of.” Her sweet voice spoke.
“Oh.” I felt exhausted.
“It won’t take too long, I promise.” She said, taking my hand in her own.
I listen to my body, who only tells me that it’s okay to follow her, to trust her.
Her skin is pale and freckles follow from her face down her arms. Her white dress captured her beauty in a way that made her shine like a strong ray of sun.
“Why would you help me?” I can’t help but to ask.
“I don’t have a lot of friends around here.” She pauses. “And when I saw you, I felt oddly drawn to speak to you.”
“You did?”
“Yes!” She says, and even if I can’t see her face, I can feel the generosity shining all over her.
“But, you don’t need to wash me to be my friend.” I tell her, not wanting her to go out of her way only to get a friend.
“I know. I just... I have always loved helping out.” She says, sounding just like me.
I have always loved taking care of the ones surrounding me, trying my best to make them feel good and to see their lips form a gentle smile, hearing their laugh.
