Hands tightened over the book in her hand, she tried to walk steadily under the harsh sun, her purple canvas bag heavy on her shoulders as she tried hard to keep her wits in the midst of the harsh cacophony of the traffic, the shrill shrieks of the bikes, as the buses growled dangerously. Her visions hazed, she shook her head trying to clear the view but failed. Beads of sweat, rolled down her already sensitive skin.
Her body swayed, her face hidden by the wimple like hijab. She tried to keep herself steady, as her people walked passed her some bumping into her but that moment or the next everything was still. She looked around her things were frozen in their places, men and women in mid walk, the bus conductor’s mouth open in a shout to the people who were getting in. but somehow, everything seemed a part of some pirated movie she was so used to watch, all except a tiny yellow butterfly that came fluttering over the frozen vehicles and through the dark smoke, it flew to her stopping right in front of her nose, so close was it infect that she could see the intricate red details on its wings and its tiny black eyes as it stared at her, all while fluttering she reached out and touched it, just to feel its wings, were they as soft as a flower petal but then it broke, literally unraveled itself into another intricate design forming a door that was the same color as the butterfly itself, a beautiful yellow gold with tiny read butterflies trapped in a flying motion through it, the latch was shaped as butterfly wings, unsure what to do she reached forward and squeezed the wings together and the door opened, she looked behind her to the people and the frozen world that now didn’t matter and entered this strange unknown realm.
It was no more than a dark corridor and in the end of it was another opening that was bright with natural light and covered with purple beaded curtains, she pulled away the curtain and entered the opening into a garden; the sky was painted in a twilight palette where soft purple clouds moved on the grey, blue and pink sky. Soft fragrant of roses, queen of the night and lilies welcomed her, tall hedges and trees flanked over the narrow gravel pathway that made its way to a small waterfall that flowed down into the sparkling pond.
She now noticed that her cloak was now replaced with a simple black dress that covered her now bare feet.
Something on her left made the rosebush rustle, and she followed the noise to find a tall frame hiding behind though she could not see his face she felt his eyes on her. She stepped closer to him and that’s when he turned around and started walking away through the thicket of small trees and hedges. She followed him curious of who else would get into such a secret garden, the gravel path left behind. She picked up pace to follow the dark clad stranger who, no matter how fast she walked was much faster than her and then was lost to her sight. Stopping suddenly she turned around to look for the stranger.
“Looking for me?” someone said,
Startled she turned to the source of the voice, and there he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. His face solemn, though she couldn’t place him in her memory at that moment he was very familiar, like someone she knew from long, long time. If that was so then why couldn’t she remember?
“I know you” she said, hoping to get the answer from him.
He shrugged, letting his hands fall to his sides. “Of course you do” he says, she notices then that his voice is simple but strangely enticing to her ears.
He started to walk away again, and she follows.
“Why don’t I remember you?” she asks, not caring where she could be following him.
“You do remember” he says, glancing over his shoulder.
“But I don’t” she repeats “I would know if I did”
He stops and so does she, he comes closer to her and she lets him hold her arm.
“Do you remember what you feel” he asks, his eyes were brown under his thick lashes.
And she did, but somehow what she felt should not be put into words, that would be inappropriate.
He scanned her face before pulling her roughly to him crashing his lips on hers, she responds instantly like it’s the most natural thing for her. With him guiding her, she found her back scrape a rough surface. His hand held her face, deepening the kiss and she own reached the back of his neck pulling him closer still, she let him explore her bare arms, and wherever he touched strange warmth spread over her skin. On her neck, her face her arms seethed with that warmth that felt heavy on her skin. His lips engulfing hers in furious motions, till finally he broke off smiling at her for the first time, she smiled back weakly.
She noticed now that darkness had fallen upon them, and a growl was heard behind them.
Unable to look at away from him, she asked “what was that?”
He was looking past her staring at something.
“It’s the wolves” he whispered, his hands still cupping her chin
She laughed a bit at the absurdity of it “it’s a garden” she said sweetly “wolves never prowl the garden?”
He gave her an amused smile “Garden?” He said “you’re in the woods now”
She frantically looked around; they were no longer standing in the garden but were surrounded by dark towering trees of the woods.
He let her go and started to walk away again. She holds tightly to his arm.
“Where are you going” she almost screamed, she was scared and just wanted to get out.
He shrugged again “wouldn’t want to be here when the wolves come” he says, not really trying to get out of her grasp.
“Take me with you” she begs,
He smiles at her sweetly, “why would I do that”
She shivers, tears of hurt sting her eyes
“You brought me here” she says
He shakes his head in disapproval “you brought yourself”
Something howls again, and a shiver runs down her spine.
He leans closer and breathes into her ear “Run” he says “their haunt only quickens with the smell of blood”
Confused, she looks at her hands, they are covered with blood, her skin, and every inch that he touched was drenched in blood. She wipes it off, only to find it oozing back to its place. She looks up to find him gone. She didn’t even know which way to go, or who to call.
Behind her, something growls she could feel their hot breath even from the distance, without bothering to look back at the monsters and ran and they jumped behind her to pursue the chase.
No matter how much she ran, it wasn’t enough. They were one jump away from pouncing bodily over her.
She trips over the hem of her dress, the silk material is now torn and bloodied, her bare feet numb from the constant pain. No matter where she turns they are always behind her, with their blood curling howls and hot gruff.
It seems he was right; the blood did make them quicken their pace. She hid behind a tree to scared and tired to move and fell down resigned to fate. If she was to be killed she would be.
But then like a ray of sunlight the little butterfly that had led her into the garden was fluttering in front of her, a small light bathing it following it where it flew. She followed the butterfly and its silver spotlight.
She left everything far behind, no wolves could be heard as she walked tripping over herself as she tried to quicken her phase. In the end the trees opened up to the light and there in the edge of its darkness, stood a man and a woman, both who smiled kindly at her. She walked closer to them; the woman ran to her and hugged her.
“It’s going to be alright my darling” her mother said, caressing her hair, while her father held her shoulder firmly.
“Yes to don’t have to be in the woods anymore” he said “you’re coming home”
“You’re going to be fine Sehar” she whispered “Sehar…Sehar”
*-*-*-*-*
“Sehar”
When she opened her eyes again, she was staring back at the worried eyes of her mother, she was lying back on her bed, in her room.
“Ammi, what happened” she asked, she could barely remember a thing.
Her mother gestured her to lie still. “Sunstroke” she said “it was a good thing some girl from your university recognized you and called us from your cell, we came right away”
Sehar was confused; she didn’t remember any of it.
“Now, rest” she said sternly before kissing her head and walking out.
Sehar didn’t know why her body ached, or her feet felt so sore, for a moment she tried to recall. It was a dream, a strange dream of a garden or was it a forest, maybe that what it was a dream when she went unconscious. Tired, she let out a yawn and diving further into the covers she fell asleep almost instantly.
A small golden butterfly flew in her window its tiny wings glowing in the light and it settled over her shoulder for a moment as her lips formed a small dreamy smile. It stays there for a few minutes before flying away into the world outside.
alicesbutterfly
