When I opened my eyes, I was floating through space. I could see nothing. Touch nothing. All I could hear was my own heart beating while it echoed throughout my body.

I wonder where I am?

As I floated, I closed my eyes comfortably. It was calming and relaxing in this space. It was warm and felt as though you were embracing a giant fluffy cat. I wouldn't mind if I stayed here forever. Though nothing was happening, it didn't fill me unease.

The aroma of flowers permeated throughout the space, filling my nose. Why do I smell such a powerful scent of flowers?

My body started falling downwards. The further I fell, the faster it became. Or at least, it felt like I was falling. I couldn't see anything except darkness, but nothing could mistake that sensation. Then, it felt as if my body crashed into concrete.

I opened my eyes.

Before me was a garden filled with various types and colors of flowers. My head was lowered as I pulled weeds from the flower bed with gentle hands. I was wearing an old pale pink dress that was definitely something I would never be caught wearing. Other than that, I couldn't really see much else.

My sight was slightly obstructed by a thin black veil. I tried to move it, but found that I couldn't move. Not only that, but I also couldn't look around or speak. It was like I was a visitor in this body unable to control what happened.

Am I on drugs again?

The owner of the body grabbed a watering can and began to water the flowers individually. This person was so careful, she made sure every action was tender and gentle. It was as if she was afraid that even a small breath could damage the flower before her.

"I knew I would find you here."

The owner jumped from the sudden voice behind her. She turned to look, but she never raised her head. All I could see was the bottom of a dress. The dress itself belonged to that of a commoner. It wasn't expensive and appeared to be made out of old worn out fabric. The owner turned back to the flowers.

Her voice was timid, "H-How did you... know.."

The commoner giggled, "You are always here. It's not too hard to find you. By the way, the garden looks really nice. You have done a good job tending to it."

The owner's hand paused. Then it continued to tend to the flower garden, "Y-Yes..." The commoner didn't speak as she watched the owner water the flowers with such tender care. The owner finally stopped and turned her head slightly to the commoner. Her voice was like a whisper, "W-Why did you c-come?"

The commoner's voice was joyful unlike the owner, "I figured you would be hungry, so I brought some food that I made. I thought we could have a nice picnic together."

I felt the owner's face grow hot, "P-Picnic?"

Without waiting for the owner's approval, the commoner pulled a cloth out of her basket and placed it on the ground. She sat on the blanket and began to pull out dishes from her basket. The owner seemed to be surprised at the commoner's demeanor. A wind blew across the field of flowers perforating the air with sweet smells. A gust of air tossed the veil allowing me to see the commoner's face.

The commoner had light pink hair, a smile that reached her sparkling purple eyes, and a chest so voluptuous it was as if it was a gift from the gods.

Wait. Mary?!

The veil fell back down and the owner looked down at her feet. I could see her fidgeting with her hands feeling nervous. "M-Mary..."

Holy sh*t! It IS Mary! What the hell is going on here!?

Mary looked up with a large grin. Although I couldn't see her face, I could feel the warmth behind it. "Seri. Come sit down. I know you are hungry."

Wait. Did she just call me Seri!? I am so lost right now.

I must be on drugs.

"Seri" hesitated before sitting down across from Mary. Mary pulled out plates of food, surrounding the both of them in a sea of dishes. "Seri" pressed her lips together, "M-Mary... T-This is a lot...."

Mary giggled, "Seri. I know about your insatiable appetite. You don't have to pretend around me."

"Seri" lowered her head more to hide her blushing face. She spoke timidly, "I-It's not insatiable..."

"Sure, sure. Just help yourself, okay?"

"B-But..."

"If you don't eat it, you'll hurt my feelings. I personally made this all for you."

"Y-You made all of this?"

"I did. The cooks let me borrow the kitchen. I made sure to make your favorites."

"Seri" pursed her lips together, "F-Fine... I will eat it."

As "Seri" munched on her food like a mouse, Mary ate elegantly while continuing to stare at the girl across from her. However, "Seri" didn't seem to realize that she was being watched so intently. Mary spoke, "You really like flowers, don't you?"

"Seri" put down her food and looked at the sea of flowers with a gentle smile. She spoke in a small voice, "I do. Flowers are always so lovely. Even when they wilt, they never seem to lose their beauty. I much prefer the company of flowers to humans any day." She reached out and gently caressed a flower, "Did you know that every flower has a meaning?"

"Really? Like what?"

"For example, Daises symbolize purity and innocence while a Hydrangea represents gratitude. Depending on the color of the flower, it could mean something else entirely."

Mary looked around and pointed out a flower, "What does that one mean?"

"Seri" turned to look where she was pointing. "O-Oh... That is a red Tulip. It represents a passionate undying love."

Mary smiled softly, "Oh really?" She reached over and plucked the red Tulip. She leaned towards Seri and pushed back the veil. "Seri's" eyes widened from the sudden closeness and was frozen to the spot in shock. I could see Mary's warm smile as her eyes reflected the girl staring wide eye at her.

The girl in her reflection looked like me. Except there was a major difference. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was wearing an ugly old dress. Her bonnet hid her face, but in this moment it didn't hide her enough. This was me. But it also wasn't me.

Mary placed the red Tulip in her hair. She whispered, "There. It looks beautiful on you."

"Seri" flinched backwards out of Mary's grasp. The veil fell back down as "Seri" turned her back to Mary. She spoke in a flustered tone, "M-Mary... I-I-I just told y-you what this meant. W-Why would you..."

Mary sat back not at all upset from the reaction. She spoke in her casual fluffy voice, "Why are you acting so bashful? I'm not lying. It really does look beautiful on you."

"Seri" didn't respond as she looked down at her lap with a nervous expression. I could hear her heartbeat thumping wildly as her breath quickened. She was so nervous, she couldn't even speak.

Mary watched her for a while before looking down with a somber look. "Seri... What's wrong?"

"Seri" flinched once more, "W-What do you mean..."

"You've been acting different ever since the fountain."

The fountain? Since I had no idea what the two were referring to, I could only listen.

She continued, "I feel like you have been avoiding me. Did I do something to upset you? Perhaps I said something wrong..." Mary sighed, "It's really hard when I am invited to those events. I am not from nobility and it's clear that I don't fit in either. I never know how to properly act, so I am really sorry if I offended you somehow. I can be an idiot sometimes and I fear that I have embarrassed you. I understand if you never want to be seen talking to me..."

"No!" Seri shouted quickly, "It's not like that!"

Mary jumped from her sudden shout and looked at her in surprise, "Then what?"

"Seri" went to speak, but found that no words came out. She sighed and turned to the flowers, "I just... I..."

Mary spoke in a soft tone, "You can tell me Seri. We are friends. I wouldn't judge you for it."

"Seri" pursed her lips and spoke hesitantly, "I-It's not you... Y-You didn't d-do a thing... It's just that..." She glanced at the bottom of Mary's dress. Her mouth was dry as she spoke with difficulty, "I... I just... I just like someone I shouldn't."

Mary was surprised to hear this, "You... Like someone?"

She took a deep breath and plucked a white gardenia from her flower garden. She looked at the flower and mumbled, "It doesn't matter though..."

"Why doesn't it matter?"

"It's a forbidden love... One that can never happen."

Mary forced herself to speak cheerfully, "I wouldn't say that. I think it's lovely that you like someone. When it comes to love, there is always a way."

She shook her head violently, "No. It's wrong."

"Wrong?"

She tightened her grip on the gardenia, "It's wrong. It's a sin against nature."

"I don't think it can be that bad..."

She looked at Mary with a pained expression, "It is! Mary... I... I..." She took a deep breath, "I like someone who is the same gender as me."

Mary was surprised by this which showed on her face, but she quickly smiled. "I don't think liking someone who is the same gender is a bad thing. Love is love."

"R-Really?"

Mary scouted closer, "What do you like about her?"

"Seri" smiled gently as she looked at the flower in her hand, "She's probably the only person who has ever really seen me. Whenever I am with her, I feel like life isn't as bad as it seems. It's like my lifetime of loneliness was worth it since I've met her. Every painful moment of my life disappears whenever she's by my side. She makes me feel warm and comfortable when I usually feel cold and worthless. The feeling is so intoxicating I never want it to end."

D*mn. Even I feel a bit jealous of this so called forbidden love.

Mary spoke slowly, "Who... Who is it?"

"Seri" opened her mouth and paused. She looked at Mary timidly, but was struck by Mary's gentle eyes and sweet smile. Her breath caught in her throat as she found herself enticed by that heavenly face. "Seri" leaned forward quickly causing her bonnet to fall off. She placed the flower in Mary's hands while gently caressing them. Her face came closer to Mary's and everything turned dark.

Although I couldn't see, I knew that "Seri" had closed her eyes. I also recognized the sensation of lips being pressed together. "Seri" had kissed Mary.

I could feel everything that "Seri" felt.

Her chest was warm with overflowing love. At the feeling of the kiss, she was elated. She was beyond happy. However...

The warm feeling began to quickly disappear and a cold sense of dread replaced it.

"Seri's" eyes snapped open once she realized what she just did. She pulled back from Mary in overwhelming fear. She fell back on her hands as she looked at Mary with a panicked expression. What she saw was Mary with wide eyes, frozen in shock by the sudden kiss.

"Seri" knew that she just did something wrong.

Something extremely wrong.

Unable to bear with the crashing feeling of rejection and fear at being outed for the scandalous kiss, she grabbed her bonnet and sprinted away. Mary snapped out of her stupor, "Seri! Wait!"

But "Seri" was already too far away. She ran with all her might. Once she was far enough away, she stopped while gasping for breath. She fell to the ground hyperventilating. She covered her ears as her eyes stung from the shocking fear.

She was having a violent panic attack.

I wanted to reassure her. I wanted to comfort the poor girl. However, I was stuck unable to do anything but watch. I could feel as she sobbed in fear while several thoughts flashed through her mind.

What should she do? Should she run away? Hide?

Should she... Die?

With that last thought, I was forcibly ejected from her body. When I opened my eyes, I was in the darkness once more. However, this time I was standing. I looked around trying to find her, but I saw nothing.

What was that just now? A memory? A dream? Was I perhaps possessed and that was actually reality?

A blinding light appeared out of nowhere, hitting my eyes with it's violent brightness. I shielded my eyes and looked towards the light at the end of the tunnel.

Uhoh. That's not a good thing. Don't they say not to go towards the light?... Or do they say to go towards it? I really should have paid more attention to movies.

Once I got used to the brightness, I noticed a familiar figure smiling gently at me. She reached out her hand to me.

My mouth dropped, "You're...."