The sun was setting down, painting the blue sky with waves of orange. Clouds floated upon tainted grey as an innuendo of the falling darkness. In the distance, lights shimmered on houses ready to greet the night.

I was waiting and looking for the slightest movement from the ground. It had been hours, but still none.

"When are you coming? Am I wrong? But I-" My fingers brushed softly on the purple leaves, reasoning myself of my sanity. I had been talking to a bush for 13 years of my life since I buried the pod. "Maybe I am crazy."

The whole day had been restless, and I couldn't concentrate on anything. It made me baffle if it was due to having so much on my mind recently or something else. But for some reason, it brought me to sit in the shed throughout the whole evening.

"Nice talking to you then," I muttered, patting the soil before pulling myself off the ground.

Before I entered my house through the back door, I glanced again at the shed. I was still hoping for something, but nothing was out of place, so I eventually stepped inside.

My mother was in the kitchen, her merry singing alongside her nonchalant smile greeted me.

"Dinner in 10. I made lasagna," she said, tilting her head slightly to the oven.

"Okay," I replied, giving her a half-smile. My appetite was missing since morning, but I didn't have the heart to turn down her offer.

Strange was all I felt at the moment; from the bath that I usually most favour, picking my clothes, and now seated facing my mother on the diner table.

"Did you lose one of your socks?" she asked, tickling one of my feet with her toes under the table. A little giggle escaped my mouth.

The sensation from it made me realise such an intricate mind I was in; I even forgot to put on one of my socks.

"I'm just... I'm not feeling myself today," I declared while gently massaging my temple.

"Are you sick?" She questioned more, worrisome replaced her cheery tone.

When she got up to check on me, I immediately shook my head. "I'm not. I'm just worried about the exam," I lied.

Only God knew how guilty I felt after the words slipped. And when I saw her mouth curved into a smile again, the contrition was my sin, even though a part of me was relieved that she wouldn't fret anymore.

"Well, I have something to make that blues go away... Ice cream!" She exclaimed. In her usual enthusiasm, she made a beeline to the fridge then took out a bucket of mix flavour ice cream.

When she handed over a spoon to me, I absent-mindedly took it and held it between my fingers. For some time, I just stared blankly at the treat, and I didn't know the reason for it.

"Honey?"

My mother's voice broke my trance. When I turned my head to her, the smile on her face instantly faded and replaced with a look of alarm. I blinked at her in confusion.

She got up then hasted to where the napkins were stored before revealing the issue. "Your nose is bleeding!"

Hearing what she said, the back of my hand swiped above my lips subconsciously. And the colour of red smeared on my skin had concluded it was indeed blood.

Following my mother's guide, we made our way to my room. She helped me sit down. "Pinch above your nostrils, lean forward and breathe through your mouth," she instructed and gave me the napkin. "I hate to leave you like this. I'll call work." Her eyes tailed me before she disappeared behind the door.

Murmurs resonated down the hall. And a while later, my mother resurfaced. She had a sullen face while still holding her phone. It gave me an understanding that the call wasn't as she hoped it to be. She pressed her lips and sat next to me on the bed. As she was about to speak, I shook my head.

"No, it's just the heat. It's no big deal," I assured. Considering the situation, I didn't want a simple case of a headache to get my mother worry. Furthermore, she was a nurse, and she should be at the hospital where more people needed her help.

"Are you sure?" She asked, stroking my back gently.

Ding! Ding!

Coincidentally, the timer's sound resonated in the air; it marked the 15 minutes for the bleeding to cool down. When I removed the cloth from my nose, there was no visible blood anymore. "See, no more blood," I showed it to her with a plastered smile.

She sighed. "Call me if anything. I mean if you feel anything at all," she said when I sent her off at the front door. The reluctance in her face was evident that she was still worried about me.

Albeit my mind was still in dazed, I tried to convince her. "I got you on speed dial. Stop worrying about me and get your pretty ass to work already," I joked, waving her to go.

Eventually, she went. Then I paced back to my room. I laid down on my bed, closed my eyes, and hoped to feel better after a nap.

Swirling and clouds of black and white appeared in my mind, drawing me into sleep. But a sudden sensation of dropping out of my chest jolted me awake. My breath hitched and I heaved deeply.

Placing my hand on my chest, I sat on the bed. "What's wrong with me?" I said to myself, waiting for the episode to alleviate.

My mind was in solitary, and I was confused as I stood up. Subconsciously I walked towards the kitchen where the back door was located.

When my eyes caught sight of the shed, that was when the feeling hit me. "Alfie," I muttered, flinging the door open before running outside.

Time seemed to stand still when I saw his patch bleak, a large hole on the ground ceding a cocoon-like entity now laying on the ground, the almost transpicuous structure gave visibility of the host inside; a human.

I felt a chill down my spine from the surge of excitement and anticipation. Each of my steps gained speed as I neared. My eyelids refused to blink, fearing I might miss a second of the event.

Once I finally got to it, I touched it carefully. The slight contact made the cocoon writhe, resulting it to break, liquid-like gushing out of it.

My eyes instantly widened when the face I had been longing to see finally enveloped into sight.

"Alfie..."

To be continued...