The Second Realm
Chapter 2
Storm
April finally got out of the hospital. It felt more like a prison than anything. But no matter, it was over now. The park April was at, was quite empty, more empty than usual. But that’s to be expected when it’s overcast. Thoughts kept racing through her mind. Completely distracting her from the task of walking, so she decided to sit down on a park bench. April couldn’t take her eyes off the scar that lay within the depths of her palm. She ran her thumb over the new markings. Feeling every bump, every crevasse, every nerve… It is now a part of her hand. The scar is not some mass added on top of her hand, but it’s the actual deformation of it.
So many questions were buzzing through her mind, it was like a beehive of data just swirling around. Only every bee brings a new thought, a new idea, a new possibility. Every single one brings a new fear. A large dark bariar was being erected around April’s mind. Preventing all thought, other than the doubtful, to enter. April finally managed to push away the thoughts and just look around.
April reached up and plucked a leaf off the tree next to her. Concentrated on the patterns of the leaf, she studied them in a way she never thought of before. Studying the way it grew, the way it seemingly flowed through the air as the wind blew. Thinking about life and how it comes to pass every day. How a small seed grows into a tree, then from it’s fruit falls the seed of it’s work. Then it starts over. April continued to study the leaf further. The wind continued to grab it, making the sides of the leaf flutter like wings. April closed her eyes, finding comfort in this simple thing;
The life of a leaf; practically lifeless, but still living. Still hanging on, even though it may be hurt.
Then she opened her eyes. She felt ice shoot through her body, from her hand that held the leaf. Her hand started vibrating uncontrollably, April cupped her hand, hanging on to this leaf with desperation. For this leaf was the only thing able to free her from the buzz within her mind. Upon the palm of her hand the scar lit up piercing through the leaf, making the leaf glow brightly. She looked around quickly to check no one was around. Then she looked back at the leaf. Her eyes widened as light poured through the veins of this leaf. Like liquid fire burning its way through the leaf’s core.
That’s when she realized what the leaf looked like in the wind. A butterfly. Both sides seemingly identical, but still different to fulfill its own purpose of deception. Like the eyes of a creature, or the eyes of a beast. This leaf was made to fly, to soar through this world and discover it… That’s when it happened… April’s hand stopped vibrating. Stillness befel the leaf as it continued to pulse light through its veins. The glow from her own hand slowly started to dim, and the ice faded away. But light still emanated from the leafs core.
April felt little bug-like pricks on her hand from the leaf, then she saw the leaf move. Carried by little sticklike legs that covered it, like a centipede. Its stem shook, like a dog flinging water off its body after a bath. Acting as if it was regaining its once lost movement. After it seemed to find its footing, it leapt into the sky. April’s heart leapt as she saw it fly away, into the world. Its wings fluttering in the wind. A once seemingly lifeless form freed from its cage which withheld it from its fullest potential. She was almost sad at the departure of this leaf. For she felt she had spent so much time with it. In fact she felt as though she had spent a lifetime with it in those few moments
The 2nd Realm 