(Rose)
R - It took us longer than expected.
B - So this is where you t that woman whose language you do not know?
R - Precisely. Communication without common language is difficult. And don’t you go see what’s inside her head without being invited to do so again.
B - I wouldn’t do that anymore. For you, I needed to. For her, it’s your call. I’m happy to stay where I am. I’ll help you if I can.
R - Don’t worry, I know you’ll behave, I was only teasing you.
B - Oh! Bad flower, bad.
I laughed stupidly, hearing her scolding of , mocking the way I usually do to her and mimicking my tone.
We enter the cultivated square. The place didn’t change much.
The child cos out because she recognised and cos to great rapidly. She does look surprised seeing the rose bushes growing over my chest and left arm, tangled along my clothes and skin.
It’s still . I say hello while Blu stays quiet for now.
We follow the kid soon after inside hers and her king of adoptive mother’s house.
~
I hear a clock ticking inside the house. This soft unnatural noise puts at ease. I relax better in this kind of environnt.
My friend arrives. She hugs despite the flowers in the way. She’s happy to see again.
Their first question is about staying with them. For how long, or forever? That is a good question.
I will not stay for long, but this place feels like a ho, and it was the first place I wanted to return to before deciding where to go next.
Using the dictionary, longly, slowly, we build clumsy sentences and talk. About us, about them, about all the ones who died, those who won’t return.
I clumsily explain them what happened to . How Blu is with and within now.
B - Hello.
They look agape, surprised and almost scared. I bet they never had a tiny white rose greeting them before. Since it happens every morning to now, I’m not amazed anymore. But they are, and their gawking look makes giggle. I reassure them, I’m still , and human. Well, I’m mostly human. (and mostly ... But on so definitions, I might never have been either human nor as I recall.)
They ask a few questions, which she answers aloud, and I translate them to my friends. There rapidly is a fourth personality revealed at the table and the mood becos livelier once the surprise is gone.
~
Our room is so nice.
B - These two humans are so different from each other and you. It’s so interesting.
R - And they are very nice people.
B - What makes one have a skin with such colours?
R - Like flowers from the sa species can have different colours, so do humans. And through reproduction we can make all the hues in-between, in theory. There are an infinity of skin shades therefore. On that island we’re rather pale, but humans tend to travel.
B - Skin colour is hereditary so, of course.
R - Precisely. Most of the body features are. Culture too in a different way.
~
B - Why did you wanted to see them again?
R - Because I missed them, and they are the only people left I know on Earth.
Literally...
R - Plus I like them.
B - Like ?
R - Our relationships are different. I love you too, you know that.
B - I like hearing you say it. And I love you very much.
I smile. She emits that light tallic sounds which is now the equivalent of a smile for her. Since she has no face.
We et them again downstairs. They are beaming seeing and quite amused seeing her.
On the table in a large pot is a very lively rosebush with white and slightly glowing leaves and flowers.
B - Is it the sa species?
R - It is. The flower you used ca from that plant. You made the leaves return to a more common green colour, but here’s where your body ca from. Though when I offered it to them, it was very little, it grew well and fast.
Zeslinry understood a little what we were discussing. One year she says.
It’s been almost a year...
B - Between your wound and awakening, winter passed. You slept for months. That plant is quite resilient, it’s lively too. I like it.
R - It’s a pretty flower isn’t it? Plus it makes this little bell sound sohow, it’s funny.
B - It’s a kind of pulse actually. So kind of thread heavy with mineral elents pulses sap periodically, which makes little hollow organs resonate. In order to talk I made them grow with different sizes and the pulse reach them at will rather than periodically.
She emits a variety of sounds in accordance to her explanation. She makes a kind of instruntal music in front of the white glowing bush. The later only responding with a single note, ringing at its slow and usual pace.
It almost looks like they communicate, which is so amusing to see and hear that it makes laugh. Zeslinry was bewildered at first, but follows in the ridiculous spur of the mont. Blu is making music, and her (Z) plant seems to be responding.
~
We eat at dinner one of the best dinner I had for longer than I can recall.
Beside the rosebush, the child, Myls, grew too. Her dark skin is beginning to look familiar to now. She asks again how long I will stay. They want to stay, sincerely.
I do too. But I want to see more of the world first.
They have maps. I show them. I want to see what London looks like now. I’d like to visit the royal palace if it’s as empty as the countryside. I want to go to Hanwell too. And SHul. And maybe Glasgow. Edimburgh. Stirling...I want to travel around the country to see what it beca since my ti, very long ago, and discover the new wonders.
If I could, I would like to see the whole world. But without ships to leave the island, I’ll settle first for a tour of England. My dream to visit the continent can wait a few more years.
I assure them that I will co back to them between each expedition around the land. They are my family now. And I value greatly the haven they built.
They fear extinction. going away feels like a step further toward the end of the human species, and that makes them uneasy. They want us to stick together.
We can’t quite share that feeling. I think it’s good and wonderful that they manage to settle and live here. They keep a stable base, a set and safe city. On my side, I probably will later want to live my life similarly, soday. For now however, I want to travel and explore.
My ti to return to a sedentary life hasn’t co yet.
And anwhile, I love that they do and keep a haven safe and lively.
They end up understanding my point of view. They could use news from the rest of the world. They have everything they need around to live and build a long life, but knowing more about the world wouldn’t hurt.
It’s been four years since the end of tis and civilisation. One day as they tell , humanity suddenly went almost extinct and the world deeply changed.
They tell how they t after that, and were no longer all alone in the world. It’s vivid mories they share with us.
The latest of the tales I listen carefully to, is how they survived together and managed to settle there in this curious land.
~
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