wildflower

[bulrushes]

On the doorstep of a little house in Forks, Washington, a basket is placed.

The doorbell rings.

There are footsteps, and then there are not.

Comments

[asmyown]

"Well, it means that I shouldn't take you to the hospital or nurse's office or anything, because I am worried that other people would want to - study you and that they would not have proper ethics while doing it. But other than that - I don't see a need to do much of anything, you seem fine."

[bulrushes]

"Study me?"

[asmyown]

"Try to figure out what you are, which is fine in itself. But you are also a person along with being not an animal, and I'm worried they would forget that. In their excitement to figure out what you are."

[bulrushes]

"I think that would be pretty hard to forget. I talk."

[asmyown]

"Some of them also might not care," she murmurs. "That you talk."

[bulrushes]

Astrid looks blank.

[asmyown]

"They might - do bad things to study you because they are curious and they are thinking about what they want to know instead of how you want to be treated."

[bulrushes]

"Oh."

[asmyown]

"Yes. And I want to prevent that, more than anything else in the world."

[bulrushes]

"Anything?"

[asmyown]

"Just about, yes. It's just barely, barely below keeping you alive."

[bulrushes]

"What about all the other things in the world?"

[asmyown]

"You are my priority," informs Lynn. "Because I consider you to be my daughter, and I love you. So you come before all of the other things in the world. Including myself."

[bulrushes]

"But where would I go if something happened to you?"

[asmyown]

"I don't know. Obviously I also would like to keep living, and would try very hard to not die. But if it seemed like it was absolutely unavoidable, like I had a timer that would kill me no matter what I do, I would make sure you go somewhere that you are safe and happy."

[bulrushes]

Astrid nods gravely.

[asmyown]

Lynn decides that her daughter needs a hug. She is going to offer one.

[bulrushes]

Hug.

[asmyown]

Hug!

"Do you have any other questions?"

[bulrushes]

"Is there anybody else who might know what I am?"

[asmyown]

"I think some of the students have noticed the hair color changes, but - I'll explain that one away as you wanting to dye it. Other than that - if anyone knows, it's probably whoever was responsible for the basket."

[bulrushes]

"We could ask people, though. Not nurses I guess."

[asmyown]

Lynn nods. "Yeah. I'd stick with people we trust, though. They might think it's a silly question, though - before I met you, I thought humans were the only things to look like humans."

[bulrushes]

"Okay. Who would be good to ask, then?"

[asmyown]

"I don't know, I'm afraid. If I had an inkling, I would have already asked them."