She Glows
A witch in the house at the end of the lane
In the sun she sparkles,
And underneath the moon she glows and my heart marvels:
An untamed rose.
A witch lived in the house at the end of the lane. Everyone said so. Nari told herself she was too old to believe in such foolishness, but she avoided the house nonetheless. As she walked by on the other side of the street, the heady scent from the climbing roses reached out to her, calling to her. Shivering in the scorching August heat, Nari quickened her steps, imagining a hooked nose and warty face watching her through the rose-decked fence.
A cry of pain drifted on the still air, stopping Nari in her tracks. Turning slowly, she tried to deny what her ears told her: the cry had come from the witch’s yard. Someone in there needed help, and no one was around to offer that help but Nari.
For a moment that lingered, Nari stood on the cusp of decision. A large part of her wanted to turn and run. For, if someone in there was hurt, wasn’t it dangerous? Whatever had hurt them could also hurt Nari, if she was foolish enough to trespass on the witch’s territory. But how could she ignore someone in need?
Another cry of pain, and Nari found she was walking, then running. Across the empty street and up to the wrought-iron gate, she ran. She paused only long enough to find the latch among the profusion of blossoms and vines and thorns, then she was inside. Trees bent overhead to create a canopy of branches and leaves that filtered the sun and cooled the air below. A spontaneous sigh of relief escaped Nari as she stepped out of the blazing sun.
At the bottom of the worn stone steps that led to the red front door, a girl around Nari’s age lay on the path, propped up on an elbow, her other hand gripping her leg just above her bare foot, her face twisted in pain. She looked up as Nari approached, surprise brightening pain-filled green eyes.
Nari’s heart hammered in her ears as she knelt by the girl. “What happened?”
Rosy colour washed over pale cheeks, and the girl tipped her head forward, letting her auburn hair hide her face. “I fell down the steps. I think I sprained my ankle. I tried, but I can’t stand on it.”
“Can I help?” Nari pushed a loose lock of straight black hair behind her ear. She couldn’t help asking, “Do you live here?”
“We moved in last week.” The girl put her foot on the ground and grimaced. “Maybe if I lean on you, I can stand up?”
“Yeah.” Nari moved in closer, pulling the girl’s arm over her shoulders and wrapping her own arm around her waist. She smelled like flowers.
“I’m Anna, by the way.” She stood on her uninjured foot, leaning on Nari, her body warm and soft against Nari’s side.
“I’m Nari.” Anna wasn’t heavy, but somehow Nari was finding it difficult to catch her breath.
Anna smiled, and her lips were the exact colour of the dusky pink roses climbing the fence. “There’s lemonade inside. Would you like some?”
Nari could only nod, her throat suddenly tight with an emotion she couldn’t name.
Navigating the uneven steps took all her concentration, and then they were inside the witch’s house. A sense of age filled the quiet entrance hall, and foreboding rose in Nari’s chest. “I think it’s haunted,” Anna said, bright voice cutting through Nari’s dark daydreams.
Nari turned to meet Anna’s green eyes, and realized how ridiculous she was being. They both burst into laughter, and more of Anna’s weight slumped against Nari.
“Sorry,” Anna gasped. “The kitchen — though there — ” She pointed to a door. “ — before I fall again.”
The bright lights in the cozy kitchen chased the last of the shadows from Nari’s mind. She helped Anna to sit in a chair at the table and put her foot up with a bag of frozen peas on it, then found the lemonade in the fridge and tall glasses in a cupboard at Anna’s direction. Sitting at the table beside Anna, Nari sipped the sweet and tart lemonade and stole glances at her. “So, you moved here last week?”
Anna nodded and put her glass down on the table. “My dad got transferred here. And my mom’s a realtor and she said the house was a steal.” She adjusted the bag of peas, then grinned conspiratorially at Nari. “Wouldn’t it be cool if it was haunted though?”
Nari looked down into the clear yellow depths in her glass. “Everyone says a witch lived here before.”
“Really?” The excitement and pure delight in Anna’s voice brought Nari’s head back up in surprise. Anna dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “Maybe she died here!”
A chill went down Nari’s spine like someone had put an ice cube down the back of her shirt. “Don’t they have to tell you stuff like that when you buy a house?”
“I would love to see a real ghost.” Anna’s eyes sparkled. “Wouldn’t that be cool?” She leaned forward and grabbed one of Nari’s hands. “You have to help me find her.”
“I–” Nari stared at her hand in Anna’s. Her mind was jumbled, racing, thoughts jumping over one another. The house didn’t look like it was haunted from here. It just looked old. And spending more time with Anna was certainly tempting. There was something about the red-haired girl that drew Nari like a bee to nectar.
“Please?” Nari met Anna’s eyes again, and knew she was lost. If Anna was a blossom, her eyes were honey, despite their colour.
Nari nodded, her fear of the unknown drowned in Anna’s light. “Okay.”
With a squeal of glee, Anna threw her arms around Nari, knocking her leg off the chair. Her squeal turned into a gasp of pain, but then she was laughing as Nari helped her rearrange her leg and the frozen peas. “Thank you, Nari,” she said quietly when they were seated comfortably once again. “I can already tell I’m going to really like spending time with you.”
Nari felt the heat rising in her cheeks and she ducked her head, but couldn’t help smiling. “I like you too,” she whispered, elation expanding her chest until it almost hurt.
Like a jewel she sparkles,
And like honey she glows and my heart marvels:
My wild rose.
This piece is part of the short fiction challenge of the LGBTQ Fiction Project, hosted on Crossin(G)enres. This week’s theme is “Euphoria and Bravery.”
