I make my way towards a clearing in a forest. I was stupid to think that I could continue to live my life as if nothing had changed. I hurt Mother and Father, and for my sake, they lived with it. They never questioned my actions or behavior and I took it for granted. Mother’s words still ring in my ear; she is the last person to question her parenthood. I want to make it up to them, to show that I appreciate them as parents. I follow a rocky trail a block from my house. The moons offer a dim light, enough for me to travel without tripping over myself. Whenever it was a special day for my parents; anniversary, birthday, or simply because they felt like it, they would go along this path to gather fluorescent flowers. Their zesty aroma would tingle my nose and exude a soft, tender glow that would serve as a night light. I never asked for it, but they always dropped one off on my desk while I slept. It was a pleasant sight to have waking up in the morning, and further proof that I have been ignoring my parent's benevolence for the past decade. I hope this gesture will be a small step in forgiveness.

The trees reduce in sight entering the clearing, and I am left speechless. The entire field is brimming with soft light as the flowers sway in the wind. I take small and careful steps through the field of flowers. I don’t want to step on the dainty little plants. No wonder my parents use every excuse to come here, it smells like I’m walking on a giant orange rind. As the pleasant aroma of citrus covers the air, I take in the view. The flowers are multi-colored lights that are bright enough to light the field, but not strain my eyes when I look at them. I inch towards a set of flowers, a mix of purple and yellow, and I snatch them. I yank them out of the ground with a hard grunt, until the roots release their grip on the dirt. An excited grin appears on my face as I check on the flowers, but to my dismay, the lights slowly dim out until I’m left with a couple of muted petals in my hand.

I left the house in a rush, I didn’t even care to think there was a method to plucking these guys. I shove the dead flowers in my pockets and move on to the next set. No matter, I’m already here and have plenty of time before my parents notice I’m gone. I move through several clusters, each using a different method than the last: pulling one, pulling several, cutting them at the stem with my nails, and even digging the ground until I see roots. With careful hands, I extract them from the dirt, but even these yield nothing but fading lights.

“Argh!” I scream into the night sky. I just want to give my parents a gift, and I’m stuck with dead, limp flowers in my hands and pockets. I take a seat on the cool and tender grass. I’m fighting back tears as I look at the mess I’ve made of the field. The once brightly lit maze of flowers now has splotches of unearthed dirt, cut stems, and torn petals. I’ve made a mess of these flowers and the field. I’ve made a mess of everything.

*Hic, hic, sniff*

I’m given another lifetime and nothing has changed—a failure, through and through. I’m starting to think that incompetence is ingrained into my soul. No matter how many lifetimes I’m put through, I will never change. I can be given everything, and still amount to nothing. I don’t deserve this life.

*Crunch*

My ears perk up to the sudden sound of cracking twigs. I wipe my tears and snot, cleaning my hands with the grass. Crouching below the grass and flora, I peek through to see a pack of shadows moving across the field. I steady my breath, afraid to be discovered by the unknown entities roaming around. I hear low and fierce growls, and the air around me turns dry and hot. I move backward away from the coming creatures, spreading around the field, sniffing and snorting the scent of flowers. I can see them clearly under the moonlight as they close on me. They are wolves, but their eyes are pitch black, and their thick fur coats emit a radiating heat that singes the flowers around them. I try to leave the field that’s being infested with the lurking animals. The path towards home is clear, and with steady hands, I raise myself, crouch walking towards the path. My anxiety is getting the better of me as sweat rolls down my head and trembling legs make it difficult to mask my presence. My legs are heavy, but I muster the courage to move. I need to make it home. I know I’m a failure, but it doesn’t mean I will give up on this life. Halfway through the field, the wolves have not detected me yet, but they are looming over the mess I’ve made across the clearing. I need to hurry before they see the tracks I’ve left. I look down at the footsteps I’ve made.

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“Mmph!”

I hold a scream; the crumpled flowers that I have so desperately tried to cultivate from the ground are illuminating with a soft, mellow glow. I tense, my legs shackled to the ground and my hands frozen in ice. I turn my head towards the lurking wolves. The sound of sniffing and snarling stops. The air reaches an intensely hot and dry temperature, and I can only hear a soft ringing in my ear. I peek my head above the grass, and I can see the wolves paused in their tracks. Their heads face the floor and their bodies rapidly shake. Large amounts of steam discharged from their fur coats. A single wolf howls from where I began my trek back. The sound resembles the sound of a roaring engine, and soon the rest of the wolves follow, their combined howling piercing my ears. As I see the pack raise their heads, their eyes turn orange-red, and their fur turns into bright orange flames.

I’ve been found.

I make a break towards the dirt path. I turn to see the wolves approaching me, leaving a fiery trail as their flames eat away the clearing. I’m close, I can almost see my house in the distance. I’m almost safe. I want to see my parents. I want them to hold me, and tell me that everything will be ok. I want them to tell me that they will protect me. I wipe some tears from my eyes before a bright ball of flame knocks me to the floor, and I tumble off the path. I land near a tree, bruising my arms and my ribs. I pull myself against a tree trunk as the pack slowly convenes. They bear their teeth, revealing glistening red fangs and a mouth full of fiery flame. I don’t want to die with regret again. I wasted my last life and I don’t want this one to end without me making something of it. I clench some dirt and hurl it at the wolves, but it doesn’t impede their advance. I’m afraid to face the darkness of death again, to be left to wonder if I will have another chance. I don’t want to be here, I don’t want to be alone. I huddle in a ball and scream.

“Momma!”

A yelp from one of the wolves in front of me. I peek through my hands to see an icicle protruding out of a wolf’s neck, its eyes shifting back into a pitch black.

“Raargh!”

A loud, hoarse scream echoes through the woods. The wolves knit closer together, darting their eyes around for the attackers.

*Woosh*

A spear rips through the air and pierces a wolf clean through, staking it to the ground. The crimson eyes shift to black and the firery furs are blown out.

“Eva!”

I hear the sound of footsteps and running water approaching. A wave of water surrounds me in a clear bubble. The sound of the night is muffled as the water slowly hardens into ice. The cool air returns, and as I sit comfortably in my bubble, I see my Father approach the wolves with a fierce grimace. Shield and sword in hand, Father slams his sword against the shield, yelling another battle cry against them. A wolf crouches down on the floor and lunges towards Father. He slams the wolf with his shield and an icicle appears from the ground, impaling it. Two wolves sprint to his left and right. The wolf on the left lunges towards him, but my Father sidesteps and slashes off their head. The other wolf tries to bite his foot, but a block of ice creates a barrier around his feet. Father plunges his sword into the wolf and it lets out a yelp. The remaining wolves growl at my parents before retreating to the forest. My tense body relaxes, and I can feel a wave of exhaustion hit me. Mother and Father slowly approach the bubble as I close my eyes. to sleep.