46. My dandelion

By late afternoon our fever was back up to 39. I endured the sore throat stoically, but Grant was literally dying.

The president couldn't take it any longer and finally ordered a doctor to be called. The doctor prescribed some magic medicine and rest. Even magic couldn't cure us overnight.

It was obvious that Circul Junior had tried several times to talk about our recent kiss and bring clarity to our already complicated relationship, but I did my best to avoid explanations and answers that would only make things worse.

My eyes hurt like hell from any light, and it was unbearable to look at the world, so Grant volunteered to read something until the medication made me fall asleep. He opened the first book I'd borrowed from Midi. He stopped at the first paragraph.

“What on earth are you reading?” He slammed the book shut and threw it away.

“It's dark fantasy with horror and detective elements. What's your problem with it?”

Grant just grimaced at my question and sent a voicemail to Kai, who ten minutes later brought us the ‘least worrying book ever’.

“Enjoy,” Asanor winked as he handed us a folio from the library.

‘All About Dandelions’ was the title. I exhaled in disappointment.

“A botanical reference book? Really?” My indignation was unparalleled.

The blonde-haired man just smiled mischievously and retreated quickly to avoid catching the gloom, melancholy and sickly germs.

Grant was more optimistic, scanned the table of contents. “Oh, there are even fairy tales in here. Shall I read them to you?”

I nodded so he wouldn't bother me anymore.

“The Story of the Dandelion,” the young man cleared his throat, took a sip of his lemon tea and began, taking a deep breath, “People say that first love can't be happy...”

“No, no, let's read something else.”

Grant grinned but stopped.

He flipped through the pages, reading passages about plants, commenting on them and comparing them with me.

“Do you remember when we had that game of forfeits and you had to choose the flower that was most like you? You seemed like a dandelion to me at that time. ‘The dandelion is a very curious member of the plant kingdom...’ just like you.”

I lay on the bed with my hands under my head, staring at the ceiling and listening to the guy's voice. The medicine had done its job and the cold symptoms were fading by the minute. It was much easier to breathe and think.

“Well, some people say if you can blow all of the seeds off a dandelion head in one breath then your wish will come true, on the condition that at least one flower grows from the blown off seeds...”

“Do we still have dandelions in the garden? I suddenly had a strange urge to blow them off,” I even jumped up, excited by the idea.

“Where are you going? Stay here,” he pulled me back onto the bed by the chain. “Siri, what dandelions? It's summer.”

I breathed out disappointed. My heart yearned for excitement and action.

I wanted to go somewhere, do something, save the world. Grant sensed my mood and immediately his magic enveloped me, cooling the emotional heat. Sloth flowed soothingly through my veins and my heart calmed.

And the peaceful voice of Circul continued to lull me to sleep: “Once upon a time it rained for a very long time...’. Just like now. ‘The whole earth was flooded, and even the dandelions were on the verge of death. A little dandelion prayed to heaven, begging for mercy. And suddenly the wind blew, and the dandelion fluffs flew up and landed on a sunny hill. After a while they sprouted and bloomed. If we follow the wind, we can bloom somewhere else…”

“I like that story,” I murmured softly as I drifted off to sleep. My eyes closed, darkness enveloped my consciousness, only the last thought lingered on the edge of reality. “I'd like to be a dandelion...”

Grant put the book down, turned to me and carefully pulled the blanket up to my chin.

The floor lamp went out and night came into the bedroom. It was dark, cool and cosy, with only the rain whispering its song outside the window.

“Sleep, my dandelion. May you have good dreams,” he said, the warmth of his breath against my ear.