two
Out in the garden, it was always peaceful. Not even the violent girls like Krista and Delilah dared to speak harshly in the midst of the flowers they'd so painstakingly planted and cared for themselves. Hilde sat with her legs outstretched in a patch of cornflowers and other minute flowers, with the scent of honey suckles draped over a trellis wafting through the air. A small wisteria tree billowed it's lavender blooms weepingly. Hilde looked up at the stars shining through the clear boundaries at the top of the garden.
She looked to her right, where the buds of tulips and canna lilies peeked above dahlias and sweet william. California poppies and phlox, ageratum, snapdragons, African daisies, and so many bright, colorful foliage that betrayed the whirlwind of dismay and sadness in her soul. To her direct left there were a row of two or three withering flax that had bloomed so wonderfully the day before. Her fingers reached to glide over the petals.
You'll come back, she said quietly. You'll be back soon.
It was true, the flax would bloom again after only being in sight for a day. She herself had come to believe that Duo would do the same. That he would return and come to take her away from Sweetwater and away from the daily fights that broke out between Krista and Carlene.
Letting herself lie down on her side, she fingered the spreading juniper that crept beneath her. she said, eyeing a bright pink arrangement, striking above tiny white and purple English daisies. In the language of flowers you mean insincerity. And you daisies are innocence.
Now standing up, compelled to teach her flowers what they meant, Hilde gingerly stepped past the wisteria and fingered the stone wall covered with ivy. Ivy means...fidelity. And lilies of the valley, she pointed at a small one and kneeled down to trace over its stems, you are the return of happiness.
she turned around, knowing they were there watching. You are bashfulness and shame.
Hilde stopped looking around and let her eyes rest on the bright red and orange color show. Thoughts of absent friends.
Thinking of Duo again, she felt hot tears fall down her cheeks to land softly upon the petals of an anemone. But she didn't stay where she was, yet stepped away, heading towards a bench hidden by a large weeping willow, balsam, and hydrangea. Sitting down on the bench, she rubbed the tears away on her sweater. Gladiolus, canna and calla lilies, agapanthus, day lilies, peachy montebretia, swirly ranunculus, gas plants, shiny tulips, daffodils, allim giganteum, and iris blooms were all around, taunting her as she sniffled and choked. Above her, between the cracks in the canopy of the willow, she could see the sweeping stars and the slight crest of the glowing earth. As she watched, a streak passed and she blinked, not sure if she'd really seen it.
Taking a breath, Someone's on their way to Sweetwater.
Hilde? Hilde, are you out here?
Not saying anything, she got up to peel aside a layer of willow leaves. she whispered, Nurse Gwen.
Behind the nurse, the youngest member of the Sweetwater troupe, the most recent addition, peeked into the garden. Hilde, I just wanted to let you know that it's almost eleven o'clock. Are you going to stay out here?
Nodding, though she knew the nurse couldn't see her. Are you going to report me?
she sighed. I'll let you stay out just for tonight. But you have to be in bed before three a.m., understand?
Yes ma'am, she whispered even lower.
Come on, Nina, the nurse ordered the young girl, who flinched greatly.
Shaking her head, Nina held her arms close to her chest. I want, I want to stay out in the garden too.
But there are bees out there, Nina, Gwen put her hand on her hip. We both know how much you dislike bees.
Bumble bees, Nina chanted, bumble bees. Bumble bees are nice bees, Nurse Gwen. Th-they wont bother me i-if I don't bother them.
All right. But the same goes for you. You have to be inside by three a.m.
Okay. Okay. Thank you Nurse Gwen.
The nurse left through the air lock doors and left Nina standing on the concrete pathway edged by candytuf. It's nice here. Nina tried to make conversation, like Dr. Roberts told her to. H-how do all these flowers bloom at the same time?
The artificial weather systems, answered Hilde, unseen. Each zone in here is climate controlled.
Nina muttered, twitchy and shaking all over as she navigated through another zone. It is warmer here than it was back there.
Hilde returned to the bench, then looked up at the willow and started to climb. You're new.
Can you tell my why?
Nina stopped in her tracks, looking at a tall, four and a half foot baptisa, the false indigo. I'm afraid of everything.
Hilde leaned against the trunk of the tree and breathed in the crisp, damp air. I'm in because they think it's not healthy to hold onto the past.
What do you mean?
A year ago my best friend, Hilde swallowed back tears, died and I don't believe that he's actually dead. I tried to kill myself at first, but then I realized that he couldn't have died.
Pulling her dusty blonde hair behind her ears, Nina looked away and plucked the bloom of a golden yellow sundrop from its stem. Did you do all of this gardening?
No, the other girls did some work with it. We all did a bit of everything. Hilde looked out over the large expanse of the garden. I planted most of the bulbs and the smaller flowers.
My name's Nina, what's yours?
She took a seat on the pathway midway to the willow. Are there any morning glories?
Not yet, Hilde admitted. I plan on making a moon garden and some rock habitats with vine-growers some time. But we haven't been able to order the seeds yet. Carlene and Samantha convinced the nurses to put the money on yarn so they could make afghans and throw covers.
Do you think some money should go to getting animals?
What kinds?
Nina blinked, her stomach churning. I like fish. Cats and dogs are scary for me, but Dr. Richards says that it might help me.
Hilde nodded, reaching up to study a branch. There was a silence between them while Nina watched a stray bumble bee in shock. It buzzed away after a moment of prancing about a lavender. Are there butterflies?
There will be soon.
Are these carnations?
Hilde peeked out to see Nina kneeled close to a bunch of baby blue eyes and pinks. No, those are pinks. Also known as dianthus.
Are you sure that these things are alive?
Duo stood over a small bunch of assorted dahlias. Hilde carried her basket over to where he stood. Yes, they're alive, Duo.
They look kinda, he looked up at her, dead. Look, Hilde! You killed
I didn't, she said, holding up a carrot-looking tuber. This is what those grew from. They're adjusting to the climate here. They're only babies.
Since when did you become such a master of foliage? He stood up and put his arm around her.
She smiled, blushing slightly. I've been into flowers since I was a little girl. She looked down at her first and last attempt to grow flowers at the compound. My mother was the most talented gardener.
Keep it up, he said, his soft blue eyes on the droopy yellow dahlias. I think this place could use it. And plus, you look so sexy when you plant things!
Hilde giggled a bit at the memory, her eyes distant, dulling ever more from the anti-depressants. Someone else snuck into the garden and tiptoed around Nina, whose eyes were closed. She hoisted herself up onto the top of a rocky wall covered with ivy and ran along the top cautiously. When she was across from the willow, she crouched down and threw herself out onto a thick limb with a rattle.
She smiled over at Hilde, who was balancing herself.
she wrapped her legs around the limb and steadied, straddling the willow as if it were a mechanical bull. I didn't want you to be alone out here.
I saw Nina, Midii said, leaning against the trunk. But I wanted to talk to you.
Hilde stared at Midii flatly, her lips a sad line of woe. I miss him.
I know you do. But do you know what? Midii smiled widely, reminding Hilde of Duo again. You're the only girl here who makes me want to stay alive. Before you came here I was rotten.
Why me?
Because we're the same.
You always were the one who said things would get better, she mused, not really showing much emotion. I'm still waiting.
Oh, Hilde, Midii held out her arms, slashed with scars and abrasions. Look at what I've done to myself. I used to be just like you. Then when you came, she paused. Look, I hate to say this, but you've taught me that there's a lot more to life than anti-depressants after you lose someone. Now I'm not a D.A.S. anymore.
Hilde made a barely happy face. You aren't?
Nope. The docs say that I'm almost ready to leave...
She bit her lip.
Yes. But I don't want to leave until you get to where I am.
You can't do that. Hilde disagreed, toying with the hemline of her sweater. Because I'll be like this forever. Not until he comes back.
Midii moaned, you can't keep doing this to yourself.
Looking up through the canopy, Hilde remembered the bright, sweeping arc of light that she'd seen earlier and hoped that it was her one-and-only returning to save her. Duo, the God of Death back from the grave to take her away from Sweetwater, never to look back, never to return.
...to be continued...