III | Utopia

❦

Apparently,

the girl I kissed under the rowan tree
is named 'Rowan'.

Apparently,

this golden city
is the world after the apocalypse?

For some reason,
Jesus is king here?

(As in the crucified Jesus that Christians believe in.)

Is this some kind of joke?

I want to make a religious joke
but the winged donkey is staring at me.

The words die in my throat.

I've entered some sort of nightmare.

The nightmare of all agnostics.

'Let me get this straight.

'This place we are in now is what you Christians call heaven.'

Rowan nods.
Eagerly.

'Where's the singing angels?
'And the saints playing harps?
'And people praising God all day?'

The donkey sighs.

'Humans.'

'I don't get it,' I say.

Rowan pats the donkey.
'It's okay. We're
bringing him back now.'

I really don't get it.

Rowan leads me deeper into the city.

Me: Where are we going?
She: To the rowan tree.
Me: Isn't it up the mountain?

The tip of her ears

peeking out of her hair

turn red.

She's angry?

But her voice is calm.
'There's another one nearby.'

[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]