Love. For me, it was green on white. The tiniest tips of lush leaves, peeking through snow. Growing despite the cold. Always reaching for the sky.
I still remember how you looked, walking down Wisteria Lane, your white shirt and how it felt like freedom, finally away from her.
I washed the forest-coloured speckles from the creases of my palms, put away my gardening utensils.
My therapist said I wasn’t colour-blind. I told her she looked good wearing green, a vision of verdant in front of the window’s white backdrop.
The blizzard’s night sky was azure when I found you in my yard, the moonlight glowing golden all around you. You’d found the most vibrant part of my garden, the corner where the ground was dug up, pastel soil clumps of decorations.
I asked if you thought it was beautiful, my garden. There was a light in your eyes I’d once told myself was admiration. But maybe it was time, I named it what it was. Horror. Your face paled like the snowflakes that fell like bodies all around us.
You looked beautiful, even then, when I realised your white clothes were really the black of mourning. But I thought of how I’d never gotten to walk beside you along Wisteria Lane, only behind you.
If I could not hold you, only my garden’s soil should.
When the hole in your stomach seeped sticky liquid, I knew it was crimson in the snow. But I only saw green on white.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Vale Perficientur
"My tears need a minute to find the edges of my face. If you'll please excuse me." The sarcasm stabbed into Juliana’s heart. Antonia glared at her from the pit of the Lyceum as her student fought to hold back tears that had nothing to do with the pain in her fingers. “You’re better than this, again.”
By Matthew Fromm5 days ago in Fiction
I Am Grateful For So Many Things
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to experience _________. Rupi Kaur's Gratitude Writing Prompts I am grateful that I had the opportunity to experience my children growing up to be kind and loving human beings, that are raising families and work in areas that are making a difference.
By Denise E Lindquist2 days ago in Writers
Comments (19)
This is fantastic. The fanciful romantic undertones very subtly shifted into a sinister whisper that feels so authentic and satisfying. When I started distrusting the narrator's innocent love, I got such a chill. Really stunning writing.
Haunting in the best way... absolutely loved this!! Could make for prelude to a novel. Gave the TV show "You" vibes just a bit, and his internal monologue explaining something horrific he did out of love... or enamourment...
Such a stunning piece! Every word flows so seamlessly and the descriptions paint such a vivid picture. Can't wait to read more of your work!
I had to read this twice. I thought I had read it wrong the first time. Such a great piece. "If I could not hold you, only my garden’s soil should." - loved that line.
Hideous 😮… but beautifully written. I especially had to reread ‘pastel soil clumps of decorations.’ Clearly bizarre thinking. I’m concerned for the defenceless kitty in the picture 😳
Hehehehehehehehehehe that ending made me grin so much! So satisfying! Also, Wisteria Lane reminded me of Desperate Housewives!
Wow! Outstanding! How romantic and horrible!
Quite chilling Poppy, really enjoyed it. Reminded me of some obsessed lover horror stories I’ve watched
Stunning writing Poppy, as always. You lulled us with poetic imagery and delivered your fatal blow. I loved how ‘forest-coloured speckles’ can transform in meaning once you reach the end.🥰
Oh damn! This was awesome! I loved the constant sense that something wasn't quite right, and that ending!? Very very well done!
Damn, Poppy. This is incredible. Love the beautiful language that offsets perfectly against the ghastly nature of the story's ending. Beautiful blackness.
Nasty, and beautifully written.
So many layers to peel back here! My morbid curiosity is grateful.
"Secret Window" meets "Arsenic & Old Lace".
Chills....yep.
There it is! I was wondering! I absolutely love the dual story here. The dark on just oozes through at the end and recolors the entire first reading, which, I suppose, is kind of the point. You're just brilliant, Poppy. To see a grave and think it's a garden...I feel like you could create the most interesting psychopath in all of literature and film combined.
That was beautifully written. And what an ending. Wow.
Oh! That took a turn. Great storytelling as I did not see that coming!! And your beautiful use of language gave this a floaty feeling which quickly turned to horror at the end. Wonderful work :)
💙