The Royal Flower

Chapter 1 The Plucking

Daniel

I did not know why I was here, hiking through the forest as if I was still that young monk who used to spend days and nights in quiet isolation and meditation. Flashes of her face still haunted my mind, but I shook them off. I did not want to think about her, my downfall. Selina.

My backpack was heavy. I had intended to spend some time with nature, reading books. I did not want to be near a Wifi connection because it would only tempt me to scroll through my f******k account. I knew I would find her smiling face there, her arm linked with another man’s own.

It was my punishment for the crimes against the monastery – and I could never go back. Selina had made sure that I was thrown into the depths of lust and love for her before she let me go.

That day was supposed to be as dull as the rest of my life. I got myself ready for an afternoon of heavy reading. I laid my bag against a tree. Then, after taking out a book and my phone from the backpack, I leaned on it to rest my back. As I was flipping through the pages, my phone rang.

It surprised and annoyed me, but I let out a grunt instead of a curse. I had never been the one for cursing. I wondered why there was a mobile signal there, thus questioning my purpose for even being there. Five years ago, you would not even think of bringing a device to this place. It was the woods, for God’s sake! My mind fell into silence after my inner burst of blasphemy.

“Hello? Who is this?”

Of course, it was my mother. She had forgotten her phone at her home and was using a friend’s own.

“Yes, mom. I will be back at my apartment in a few hours. Yes, yes. I am alright.”

I listened to her worries, and I could not really blame her. She had cried when I offered my life to God. My mother told me not to waste my life in hiding. But when Selina came along, she was not pleased, either. She did not even hide it. But my mother loved me. Even after my relationship fizzled, she did not say, “I told you so.” She did not have to say the words, though. I could feel them.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I just need some time on my own.”

She finally said goodbye. I placed my phone on the grass to my right as I got ready for an afternoon that most people would find boring. Selina could never understand why I loved books so much. She complained about how it took away time from her. But she was wrong – she took a lot of the time I should have devoted to other things I loved. I was close to not seeing anything else but her. I told myself that I was better off without her.

As I bowed my head to my book, a fluttering in my peripheral vision distracted me. I turned to my left, and I saw the most beautiful wildflower I had ever seen.

It was lovely and strange, more prominent – bigger - than most flowers around it. It was the only one of its kind, strong even when surrounded by other flowers and weeds. I shrugged and tried to focus on finding my page, but it fluttered again, almost like a butterfly hovering over a flower. But there was nothing there, at least nothing moving on its own.

Maybe it moved on its own? I laughed – there, alone in the forest. I felt ridiculous, but I still got up to get it over with. I knew it was wrong to pluck a flower. It should always be there with the rest of nature. But what the heck? I had broken worse rules, and nothing mattered anymore. The old me would have made sure the flower stayed there, but the new me was defiant.

When I got closer, I saw that the yellow flower was even more beautiful up close. Under the surface petals, there were more. They clumped together, keeping the secrets of its core. I thought of the bottle of water and the cups in my bag. I would have to make sure it survived at least a few days. Maybe I should post pictures on **. I let out another hollow laugh. It was Selina who introduced me to these things – social media, other people.

I tentatively approached the flower. What was wrong with me? It was not like it would bite me!

Then, I gently plucked it.

I did not know what had happened next. One moment, I was holding a light and delicate flower. The next, I felt something – something heavier but somehow soft – fall on my outstretched arms and pass through them.

I heard a scream. It was a woman’s voice. I followed it and saw a young woman on the grass, naked. She was the one who screamed in pain.

She stood up, not caring about the fact that she was not wearing any clothes. Then, she kneeled at my feet.

“I thank you, kind, sir! Thank you for saving me!”

I was bewildered by her actions. I knew my cheeks had turned red. Here was this woman with long auburn hair, barely covering her breasts, worshipping me. I could not think of any other word to describe what she was doing.

“Ahem. I would have liked you to get up, but… wait for me over there.”

I half-ran towards my backpack. My heavy bag had everything I needed if I ended up spending the night there in the forest. I took my blanket and rushed towards the young woman.

“Here, wrap it around yourself.”

She obeyed.

“Who are you? Where did you come from?” I asked.

“I was the flower you plucked,” she said, matter-of-factly.