Botanical Enigma

ElshaHawk LoA

Ficlets and Ficly survivor, FicMom, and Mistress of Well-Intentioned Indecision and Goddess of Unrequited Love. @ElshaHawk @HawkandYoung

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The doorbell chimed.

Confused, Mina rose from her chaise, disturbing her cat, who airily strode off to preen. She wasn't expecting anyone, nor any packages. Frowning to herself, she turned the deadbolt, twisted the knob lock, and slid the chain lock back.

The stoop was empty. She looked right, left, and even leaned out a bit to make sure no one and nothing was in the bushes. Then she looked down.

A single blossom lay on her welcome mat. Its 5 deep royal blue petals were flecked with fuchsia, increasing in freckles as the petals met the center where no stamen sat. The sepals were rain forest green, and joined smoothly, without a hint of stem. Was this some sort of air plant?

She was on personal leave, hadn't decided to go back to botany. How dare he leave her this enigma?!

Slamming her door, she made the cat jump. Sighing, she filled a shallow vase with water and set the plant afloat on top of it. It spun. Quicker and quicker. Then it curled its petals up and caught on fire, consuming itself.


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Comments (4 so far!)

Average reader rating 5.00/5

HSAR

HSAR

I fixated on the description of Mina's cat, whose characterisation is absolutely perfect!

  • #524 Posted 8 years ago
  • 0
ElshaHawk LoA

ElshaHawk LoA

Inspiration attributed to Robert Quick:

Girl finds an undiscovered/unknown flower on her door step. What does it mean, who or what is it from?

  • #534 Posted 8 years ago
  • 0
Storykeeper

Storykeeper

This is wondrous and mysterious. The image of the flower spinning until it bursts into flame will be with me a while. Also, I was so in love with David Almond's Mina (from Skellig and from My Name is Mina) that I'm automatically pre-disposed to yours. Love.

  • #1282 Posted 7 years ago
  • 0
  • 5 out of 5
slapdashmonuments

slapdashmonuments

Well, little things Mina lot. I am intrigued by this...just discovering it was two years ago that you wrote it.

Your stories, Elsha, set my imagination spinning, and I'm grateful.

  • #2006 Posted 6 years ago
  • 0
  • 5 out of 5

Story prompt:

Girl finds an undiscovered/unknown flower on her door step. What does it mean, who or what is it from?

Unknown flower by Robert Quick


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  • Published 8 years ago.
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