A Gift

She walks past the kitchen ducking under the low ceiling as she enters the family room. It may better be named living room she thinks wistfully, as she is now the sole occupant of the house. Her eyes dart around the room looking for a worn leather blue journal. “There it is”, she says aloud grabbing the small journal off the coffee table.

She lifts the journal up inhaling the sweet scent of soil and parchment. Plopping down heavily on the small, old recliner, she cracks open the journal and thumbs a couple of pages until she reaches the page she was looking for.

December 14th, 2022

Today something interesting happened, I was drawing my blue hibiscus in full bloom, and I saw movement outside. I had to move up in my armchair a bit in an attempt to get a good look, but what I saw baffled me; it was a drone. At least I think it was with all the plants in my front window, it’s difficult to be certain. I quickly left the comfort of my armchair to see if I could confirm what I saw. Opening the front door, I peered into sky searching for the mystery object, but all I could see was a small shape high above that could easily be a bird. I attempted to get a better look when I kicked a small box off my stoop and into the grass. The object was gone when I looked back into the sky. This is where things get weird, it had my name written on it by hand but no address. The script was perfect, precise, and devastatingly beautiful. With hesitancy I brought the package inside, I felt a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. After everything that has happened, I left the package on the table until I can make a decision.

December 15th, 2022

My therapist is going to love how much I am journaling, admittedly it is because I am excited, and the delivery of the seed has sparked joy in me that I haven’t felt since Joe

The next couple lines are a scribbled mess and totally illegible; she sighs at the torment of the page. She shifts uncomfortably in the armchair before continuing to read.

But PROGRESS IS PROGRESS!!! Anyway, back to the excitement. After finishing my drawing, I made dinner and went to bed. I couldn’t keep my eyes off the box every time I walked by it, sitting there all smug on the table, keeping its secrets. I caved not 30 mins into bed, admittedly it may have been less than 10, it felt like an eternity staring wide eyed at the ceiling. Throwing caution to the wind I tore open the box not even bothering to save the beautiful penmanship. I am still a bit upset over that. Inside the box I found a piece of parchment wrapped around a sealed metal canister with a ribbon tied into a bow. On the parchment was written, “Please accept this gift of life.” The canister had instructions engraved in the metal on how to plant and care for the seed contained inside it. The canister itself was a sparkling metal unlike anything I have seen. The instructions stated that the seed must be planted within 3-4 hours of breaking the seal. Of course, I immediately went barefoot to the greenhouse in my pjs and planted the seed. When I broke the seal on the canister it made a hissing sound, it was pressurized. The air had a sweet smell to it, and I stupidly dumped the seed into my bare hand. The seed had small thorns on it and of course it pricked me just enough to draw a drop of blood from my hand. The seed itself was about the size of my palm and had three different hues of green. It had a slight bioluminescence and deep yellow tendrils snaked across the evergreen spikes. I am entirely unfamiliar with the seed and have no idea what it will grow into. I quickly dropped the seed in the hole and washed my hands thoroughly before burying it in the soil. I felt a wave of nausea hit me and I swear I saw the seed move before shoveling the compost on it. I must have been very tired, I hope I didn’t poison myself but today my hand felt fine, although I did have a slight headache all day but that might be because I showered and went to bed with wet hair.

December 20th, 2022

The past few days have been fairly uneventful. I wrapped up my classes and do not have to work until after winter break. I am alive and well, so I didn’t poison myself with the mystery plant seed. The plant defies classification, its growth rate is incredible and is already 14” tall, I measured it this morning. So far it is a singular woody stalk and has a diameter of 1”. The stalk is the same dark green color as the seed and has a similar shape and texture as some bamboo species including the having fronds sporadically spaced. Yellow nubs form before they become snaky vinelike yellow tendrils that wrap around the stalk until they reach the ground and spread out from the plant. The farthest-reaching vine has only spread about 6” from the base of the plant so far and is decorated with little green dots.

The rest of the entry is filled with further scientific observation which she was already familiar with, so she skipped to the next page. She tenderly traced the drawing of the baby plant on the parchment with a pointed finger. It was such a beautiful drawing. Written underneath the drawing was a single word, Ferna. She continued to the next page after admiring the drawing of her baby for several minutes. The device on her wrist alerted her to the imminent arrival of the dawn. She set the journal on the end table and uncurls herself from the small armchair. She heads to the greenhouse to check on the plant’s transformation and ensure it has all the necessary nutrients before retiring for the day. She ducks through the backdoor and grabs the journal on her way upstairs to bed. She opens the journal picking the pages at random, absorbing the information in hopes of retaining the life of the words on the parchment. The sun rises and is scattered about the room through the half-opened blinds. She sleepily gets up and opens the blinds further allowing light to fill the room before collapsing heavily into the bed. The sweet feeling of warm sunlight basks against her naked extremities as she drifts off into a meditative state for the day.

Knock Knock

The loud noise disturbs her respite, and she checks the device on her wrist with a groan of annoyance. It was just someone delivering a package. No way she was going to be able to relax again so it was time to get up, she had about 3 hours to kill before it was fully dark. After raiding the kitchen, she plops back into her favorite armchair with the journal cradled in her hands and begins reading.

December 23rd, 2022

The plant has more than tripled in height and is now almost 4 inches wide. If it maintains this growth rate, it will be taller than me in 2 days. The green bumps on the thickest yellow vines have begun to form small green spikes and have spread out around the plant far enough that I have to reorganize the greenhouse in order to accommodate it. It requires a vast amount of water, per the instructions the soil must be kept damp, and when I got up today to check it after breakfast the soil was way too dry. After watering it and setting up a water drip, I began to wonder if this plant was even legal for me to have. I obviously have been wondering where it could have originated. The climates that would support it includes any rainforest, and most tropical environments. The plant is actually incredibly resilient besides needing lots of fresh water. I have begun to feel quite attached to my new plant and have decided to officially name her Ferna. I have told nobody about the plant. This scientific discovery is too incredible to risk it being taken away.

She flips through the next pages of drawings and scientific data rather quickly until she gets to the line, I have begun to have odd dreams about Ferna. She flips back a page to verify the date the dreams began.

December 26th, 2022

I have been exhausted from the holiday festivities and maintaining my greenhouse - mostly the holidays. I spent time at my in-laws, my first Christmas without Joe. We never really celebrated but family was important to Joe, and I loved having the warmth of his family. It filled the gap of never having my own family, and I always felt like I belonged. This time was understandably different, without Joe or his parents. Three deaths in one year hit the whole family hard, the mood was somber, if it wasn’t for her sister in-law’s 5 kids they likely would have cancelled the get together this year. I spent the rest of Christmas day in my greenhouse drawing Ferna and collecting data. I decided to sleep in my greenhouse tonight to enjoy the warm, moist air, like old times. I had the most vivid dreams that night. I dreamed Ferna was talking to me telepathically, describing in detail the needs of her care and also that things would soon change for me for the better. Just strange! Probably need to take do a self-care day and take nap today, in my own bed.

December 30th, 2022

Ferna is now taller me; she is about 6’2” and about 6 inches wide. I have begun tracking her growth in excel now that I have enough data points. I believe the plant to be female, and she started sprouting small flowers from the yellow vines that give off the most intoxicating smell. It smells like a perfume made just for me. I have been bad at journaling recently, partly because I misplaced my journal. I have been struggling with my memory recently and have been misplacing things around the house. I have decided to stay in for New Years and rest. I feel like I am losing it.

December 31st, 2022

I had the strangest thing happen to me, and I think I may have sleepwalked last night. When I woke up this morning, I noticed my feet were dirty and upon checking my sheets I noticed a small amount of soil between the sheets. It was as if I walked barefoot in the greenhouse without washing my feet. Odd to say the least. This in combination with me forgetting things I am a bit concerned that my plant is making me ill. I will take precautions and minimize my exposure and wear PPE in the greenhouse until my symptoms abate.

January 1st, 2023

Happy New Year to me and the fire department, who I called because I was worried I had a carbon monoxide leak in my house or the greenhouse. I didn’t. I found notes around my house seemingly in my handwriting, but I had no memory of writing them. These symptoms can be a sign of a leak, so I was being cautious. My memory seems to be better whenever I am in the green house vs my home, so I have been spending more time in the greenhouse.

January 5th, 2023

I lost my journal in the house again. I have been feeling quite paranoid as of late as if I am being watched. That feeling intensifies when I am in the house, and I have started to sleep in the green house full time. I have checked the security cameras numerous times and have found nothing unusual. I feel like I am losing it, but the greenhouse is the only place that I can sleep peacefully.

January 7th, 2023

I decided to take a sabbatical from my responsibilities at the university next semester and fully focus on taking care of my greenhouse. My greenhouse has exploded with life, many of my plants blooming out of season. I have been in full research mode and the distraction is most welcome. I think my Ferna is causing the increased growth in the greenhouse, the data is fascinating, and I think I am close to making some breakthroughs. I think I am still grieving Joe, hence the memory loss. I have cancelled my therapy appointment for this month.

January 10th, 2023

I think Ferna may be conscious, the data supports my hypothesis, but I feel crazy. It shouldn’t be possible. My computer models show neuron like communication. Ferna is about 12’ tall now and 6” in diameter almost 8” at the base. The sporadic fronds shade provide shade below and the yellow vines with green spikes are now spread all over the greenhouse with the thickest being almost 2” in diameter. The spikes sometimes ooze a sap that has a sedative quality to them. I am unsure if this plant is safe for me to keep.

January 12th, 2023

I tripped over a vine today, landing hard on it. I have several small puncture wounds, but no pain. My leg was numb for a couple of hours. I feel fine now but I am moving my cot to a different area of the greenhouse and will wear PPE again.

January 13th, 2023

I think I need help.

That was the last intelligible thing written in the journal. She closed the journal, worrying about Sue’s mental state. I hope this doesn’t affect the transformation she thinks as she tucks the journal into a bag leaving the armchair for the last time.

She enters the greenhouse, tapping her device activating the perimeter security to ensure they will not be disturbed in any way. She smiles and she approaches Sue and Ferna, carefully stepping over vines. She assesses the progress of the transformation, checking the vines tightly wrapped around Sue’s human form. To her it was a beautiful combination of flesh and plant becoming one, new life. She gently runs her vined hand down Sue and Ferna’s spine reaching out her consciousness to communicate with Ferna telepathically as Sue was still in a coma-like state locked in a standing position with her forehead pressed into the trunk of Ferna.

“You have done well my daughter, this is a strong union, you two are ready.” she says aloud, stepping back as the vines on the ground began to shrivel. The mass of vines and flesh begin to glow a green bioluminescence as the nutrients are transferred inwards.

The process takes almost 30 minutes to complete, and the results are a hardened yellow and green vine armor wrapped like a carapace around Sue’s fragile human frame. At least it used to be, before being strengthened by Ferna over the course of the last month. Thorns still cover the vines offering protection until they are shed in the coming months.

A squelching sound combined with the sound of creaking wood fills the air as Sue’s head rips free from the trunk. She feels hands steady her as her body wobbles with the sudden weight of consciousness. Her mind feels foreign and unending, and she notices a probing presence penetrate her thoughts. The fog clears almost instantly and a vast alien presence makes itself known overwhelming her consciousness. She swiftly feels trapped, realizing she cannot move or open her eyes. Sue’s mind begins to panic, and she feels a strong feeling of calm wash over her. An internal voice that is not her own tells her it’s going to be alright Sue.

Ferna? Sue questions her mind.

Yes Sue, her mind resonates back to her.

Before she can even ask, her mind flashes with images, thoughts, smells, all her memories and Ferna’s from the time she planted her to this moment. It was overwhelming and the panic began to set in. This cannot be real she thinks.

"It is.” a new voice speaks, coming from outside her mind speaking in.

Before she can do more than ponder the situation the voice speaks into her mind again. “Our species can communicate telepathically, and humans can too you just do not have the intellect to process the information yet.”

“Now, Ferna please help Sue open her eyes so she can look upon her mother’s face.” the voice said speaking aloud for the first time.

Sue’s eyes spring open on their own accord and her legs move slowly, Ferna guiding their minds to perform tasks. The colors and textures in her vision are strange and it takes Sue a moment to realize that only the red lights are on in the greenhouse. As they turn their body their mother comes into view. She taps something on her wrist and the lights in the greenhouse turn on, revealing an almost 8-foot plant alien. She was almost entirely green with some yellow hues, her body covered in vined armor. Her green eyes bore into me, staring own at me evaluating my every thought.

“Yes, eventually you will look more like me” She says, “you will turn green, and your thorns will wither unless you choose to maintain them.” She pauses then says, “Also you may call me Mernieth or mother.” She continues on answering all my questions before I can ask. “Our species forms a symbiotic bond with other lifeforms strengthening both, although we can grow on our own, it is less advantageous.”

“Now,” she says, “it is time to go home.”

Where?” I ask

She smiles ruefully revealing pointed teeth before saying “To the new life I promised.”