And so, as I sleep, some dream beguiles me, and suddenly I know I am dreaming. Then I think: This is a dream, a pure diversion of my will; and now that I have unlimited power, I am going to cause beauty to inhabit all places.

I look down at my hands; Torn with chewed nails and callouses.

No. that isn’t quite right.

I know I can let my internal splendor show in my appearance as well. And so I let it be.

I flip my hands over, and again. Now my skin is smooth, without blemish. except for my scars, I leave those be. They are a part of my story and will remain so.

As I walk down the city street, my simple jeans and hoodie transform into a luxurious roman toga alba. Pure white sheets of cloth draping over my body, perfectly comfortable. It allows me to walk with grace, each step with my sandal clad feet transforms the concrete around me. Color blooms on the grey slate, as flowers appear, growing and shifting at heightened speed.

I continue my walk through the dying city. I touch each building as I pass.

They are grey towers of metal and concrete. Claws reaching upwards to scrape the sky.

But as I touch their surfaces, flowers, plants, moss and fungi grow up their sides.

I finally look around myself. For the first time noticing the people around me.

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They are all are grim, heads down, black umbrellas clutched in hand; even with the lack of rain, they still hide themselves from the roiling clouds above.

Their skin is grey, and their eyes are dead. Their life has been drained out of them, and their will to continue life is gone.

The crowd on the streets is getting larger. Trampling the plants spreading from my feet.

I try to continue spreading color through the city. Touching each, building, sign, bench, and so on. My beautiful forest follows me. But it gets trampled and torn down by the way the city exists.

I’ts not enough, the people around me look like they are dying. Nobody appreciates the beauty I am creating. Maybe if i…

I reach out and touch a passing man. He gasps suddenly. Coughing out a cloud of dust. The light returns to his eyes. And his skin changes from grey to normal tones.

All of the sudden; In the growing throng of people I catch a glimpse of a face I know.

“Evangeline! Wait! It’s me Briar!”

She doesn’t seem to notice. She disappears as fast as she appears.

I know what I need to do now.

I rush through the crowd, shoving people aside. Each time I make contact with somebody, color fills them. Each one seems to gasp in relief. Their skin gains warmth, and their clothes go from grey, to all shades of the rainbow.

But to me it doesn’t matter how much of my light I spread. I need her happy so I can be complete.

After much effort. I manage to catch up to my beloved. I call for her; She turns to face me. Her eyes are blank, And her stance is hunched and closed off.

“Evangeline. Baby. It’s me.”

She doesn’t respond; just stares at me.

I reach up to cup her cheek in a hand. I stepped even closer, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead.

Slowly. Color returns to her skin. Filling in the blush in her cheeks. Her hair reverts to its hazel color. Her grey garments are flooded with tones of royal purple. A breeze of wind flutters around us. Making me shiver

Evangeline lets out a long sigh while her hands wander, finding mine and holding them tight.

“Now I can be whole, I whisper.”

We walk together, spreading the growing foliage. It grows faster now that I have my beloved by my side. Other people begin helping us.

The grey slate of the city is utterly destroyed.

In its place a paradise is built.