Sunflowers

Today was hide and seek in the fields. Each day, we get an activity. They can be work or fun. I finally got a fun one after three days of work. I made my way to Reed's cottage. Along the way, I admired the blossoming trees and the chirping birds. It's like they were telling me it was spring. After a few minutes, I saw it. That dirt home with flowers and vines to decorate. The small garden os sunflowers in front. They were his favorite. My people worship mother nature above all. The beautiful and the ugly of it all. It is a tradition that once you turn sixteen, you build your own cottage. You made it your own with whatever you would like. People use rocks, flowers, branches, all sorts of things. I turned sixteen a few months ago. I had so much fun building my home. I skipped up to the door and locked on the oak wood. When he opened it, he welcomed me with a smile. "Are you ready?" I ask. He is about four inches taller than me so he looks down and says, "Yeah, let's go." He grabs my hand and we walk together towards the sunflower field.

Some of the younger kids were already starting their game of hide and seek in the daisy field. Our friends were also just getting there. "Hey, Lavendar." Petunia greeted me. We hugged while Reed and River shook hands in greeting. This is our group we have done things with since we were kids. You get assigned a group at age nine and you do your games and work assignments with them forever. There are some exceptions like if you refuse to get along. But that never happens. "Okay. Who's it first?' River asks. No one volunteers.

"Okay then," I say. "Everyone pick a flower. Whoever gets the smallest flower is it." We each pick on and hold them up so everyone can see. River's flower is obviously the smallest. "No fair." He complains. "I'm always it."

"Get counting big guy." Petunia tells him as she already runs away to hide. River covers his eyes and starts counting. "one... two..." Reed grabs my hand and pulls me away. We laugh and go to our best hiding spot. At the edge of the field stands a large willow tree. The sunflowers tend to be tallest there. We curl up at the bottom of the tree and partially cover ourselves with the flowers. "This is my favorite." He says quietly.

"Yeah? Why's that?" I ask.

"Because we get some peace and quiet under this willow tree while it takes them forever to friend us." We laugh and he grabs the side of my face. He gently pulls me into a soft kiss. I smile a rest my head on his shoulder. I could stay like this for hours. If only mother nature would allow it. Thunder crackled loudly in the distance. It was so sudden it made me jump. I look at Reed worriedly. We got up and searched the sky. Huge, dark gray clouds filled the sky. It had been sunny only a few minutes ago. The wind picked up too. "Let's find Petunia and River." I take his hand and we run away from our little paradise. Luckily, they had the same idea. They were running around the field looking for us. "We have to get to the big house." Petunia said over the whipping winds.

"Agreed." I practically yelled. I started to feel a few raindrops against my face. Lighting lit up the whole sky. I was starting to get nervous. I prayed we could avoid a forest fire. Together, the four of us ran wildly through the field, knocking the tall sunflowers out of our way. Lighting strikes again, closer this time. Loud thunder followed. This way not looking good. We got out of the field and ran through the woods. By now, it was pouring. My outfit was no help. I had worn a pale yellow silk dress with my brown sandals. Petunia wore something similar and the boys were in shirts and shorts. I looked over at Reed. He has a sunflower stuck in the collar of his shirt which he didn't seem to mind. We got to another open field when my heart stopped. About one hundred feet in front of us was a small tornado. We immediately turned and ran, but that tornado was fast. "Go! Go! Go!" Reed screamed. It sounded like he was behind us. "Reed!" I yelled, but too scared to turn around. I heard no response. "Reed!" I yelled again, louder this time. I felt tears running down my face. Then the wind slowed. It was nearly still. I turned, only to find a sunflower a few yards behind us.

They found him later that day. He was hurt badly and taken to the hospital building. He has deep cuts from branches he happened to hit when he got caught up in the wind. I held the flower to my chest and walk laps around the waiting room. Everything was either wood, stone, or dirt. It was no pleasure to the eyes. Petunia and River stayed there with me. It was a few hours before the doctor called us in. "In his condition I-" he hesitated. "I don't think he will last the night. We found a puncture wound on his left side. We tried our best but he's losing too much blood. I'm sorry." The doctor looked down, unable to meet my eyes. I held back the tears threatening to fall uncontrollably. "Thank you." I managed. I walk slowly towards his room. I opened the door and found him head to toe in blood-soaked bandages. "Lavender." I heard him say weakly. I rushed to his side. At this point, it was no use. I let the tears fall and sobbed. I felt him gently squeeze my hand. I took both my hands and held his. "Listen to me." He spoke slowly. I looked him in you the eyes, still crying. "I know I'm not going to make it. So I need you to do something for me." I nodded, not able to speak. "I want you to keep my garden." I could only smile and cry more. Of course, I will. I thought. My sobs kept me from getting a word out. "And Lavender." When he said this, he sounded as weak as ever. "I love you." I slowly and quietly got out a sloppy "I love you." A few moments later, I felt his grip loosen. I fell to my knees, head in my hands. I sobbed thinking, Why him?

-1 week later-

The sun shone bright and warm today. I stood, watering the sunflowers of Reed's house. I had promised to care for them. I couldn't let him down. I had been given time off from activities for the time being. It gave me time to think. I walked with my family often. Down the old path that our families took every weekend. I looked down at the sunflower attached to my shirt. I smiled sadly and came up with an idea. I put down the watering can and walked towards our willow tree. Once I got there, I dug out a little hole. I took the flower and buried it between the tree and the stream. I folded my hands to get some water from the stream to pour over the flower. Once I was done, I stood proudly. I brushed the dust off my hands and walked back home. That plant will be my last memory of him and what he was like. Bright and beautiful, like a sunflower.