I hold in my breath, a tingle starting in my hands as the thought of Glaide and Ivy twists my gut.
No. Don't letthoseflowers grow in front of Glaide.
I curtly nod, trying and failing to bury my anguish as we exchange goodbyes and he goes off to see her.
His soulmate.
As he walks off, I release the breath I held, letting my hands buzz stronger as green flowers wrap tightly around my arms and hands. They pop from my black suit and their thorns stab into my skin. A punishment for being envious.
Invidia flowers. Flowers of envy.
The flowers of loving something that someone else has but never having it yourself.
I foolishly stand there, sulking in the feeling. I hate being envious. I feel so stupid. Glaide has someone to share his whole life with him. Someone to cherish him as much as he does her. Someone to be intimate with. Someone to have a family with.
He's found true love. He's found happiness and fullness in a way I'll never feel. His life is set and complete.
And here I am, a man that's going to go through his whole life without experiencing the greatest joys of life.
Glaide triggers this disgusting feeling at every mention of his soulmate.
And I hate myself for it.
The flowers keep popping through my clothes as I turn away from him. Stop thinking like that. Stop it!
My life will be satisfying either way. I don't need a woman. I don't need a girlfriend or a wife. Many people live life just fine without a partner. I can do this!
The thoughts do nothing to pull my heart out of this lonely well of disappointment.
My eyes stress like they would pop from their sockets. My breath quickens as I realize that my eyes must be glowing green if these flowers have grown! I jerk my head in different directions, now aware that people are staring with scorn and squinted eyes. I pick up the pace of my feet, moving somewhere away from here.
I already look like a freak to everyone. I don't need more of it.
I dash into a dark alleyway between the rough brick buildings, with only a single dim light hanging over the dumpster next to me. It's dusty, dirty and decorated with spilled garbage. Pressing my back against the wall, I take deep breaths while peeking out to see if others saw me go here, but it seems they all turned their attention elsewhere.
I realize my foot’s tapping and force it down before sliding my back down against the rough bricks until I'm sitting.
I can't let that happen again. No one should ever see me like that again.
Bang!
I jerk my head towards the dumpster. My body tenses to a point it would hurt to move.
What was that?
Bang! Clank! Ting!
I flinch and stand quickly. It seems like something is rummaging through the trash. Like a raccoon maybe.
No. The sound was louder than that. From a much bigger creature. Like…
A dreamscreecher.
They’re the size of pumas with nearly the same kind of body, with its claws and teeth waiting to shred me.
If one is in there, I'm done.
My heart lashes my chest as I reach for my pistol in my pocket. I don't go anywhere without It. I wouldn't dare.
