Chapter XVII

    How would I be remembered? Throughout my humble existence on this blessed planet, a dominating fear had kept me from everything, from harm, from beauty, from love.

    When I walked home, I saw the Alexandria laurel and was awed by its beauty one more time. The leaves quivered in the prevailing twilight, singing the last psalm for the light. The flowers had withered and vanished, and the tree was in yet another round of a new beginning. The arching branches had been protecting the delicate flowers, from buds to falling petals, but now, it couldn’t even keep the grass dry.

    Chapter XVIII

    Mom’s door was ajar when I went inside. My blood was boiling when I heard the calm voice of Dr. Brown from her room. I peered in. Mom was crouching on the floor, sobbing and begging, while Ms. Davis was by her side, saying something into her ear and giving a menacing look to Dr. Brown. Dr. Brown stood upright in front of them, with a grim smile on his face. I heard mom saying, “Let go of me, please! Take whatever you want. Don’t come back again.”

    I shouted to mom, but my throat was dry, as if I was being choked so they couldn’t hear me. I wanted to kick and scream, yet all I could hear was my raspy voice, like the raucous caw of a raven. I was shaking all over. I felt as if a part of me had left my soul.

    With all the force I could muster, I grabbed a pair of scissors off a table and rushed in.

    Time was still. All the voices silenced. All I could hear was the wind in my ears. Transient as it was, I felt as though I had been running for ages, and my T-shirt was soaking wet with sweat. I saw Dr. Brown in front of me, barely noticing my abrupt appearance. He didn’t even have a chance to look at me before I threw myself at him and had a pair of scissors on his neck. I slit his throat.

    Blood spurted out of the wound. Mom was screaming. I saw the blood pool on the floor. I fell to the floor. I heard someone’s footsteps in the corridor and someone crying. Then I heard the siren of an ambulance. Then I heard nothing.

    Chapter XIX

    I slept for a long time. I dreamed of standing on the lawn in my bare feet and felt the wet, soft grass between my toes while watching the laurel tree standing in her golden white wedding dress woven by the dawning sunlight. I walked into her open arms and saw a little pale white flower blooming in front of my face.

    I didn’t see mom for a very long time. Probably because I had to live in a different place. There were white walls, white sheets, white cups and people all dressed in white. It wasn’t long before I decided I liked it there. I didn’t see Harriet either. Ms. Davis came to visit me several times. One day, when I woke up, I saw a large bunch of flowers on my nightstand. I sat up and held it in my hands. There were lilies, baby’s breath and roses. There was no card.

    A garden was in the backyard. Many trees were growing there, and they bore flowers in every season. There was not a single laurel tree. My love for trees had grown from passionate to tranquil. When I looked at them, I never again was struck by the awe the laurel once inspired in me. Instead, I felt peaceful, harmonic. I was a little disappointed by it at first.

    But then, I guess, I got used to it.