Sakura lifted her hazel eyes to the bright blue sky. Chirping filled the air. Her mind was still a flurry of memories and images of people that felt like a distant past. She rubbed her eyes with her hands which felt lighter than they should have.

She turned her attention to the world that suddenly surrounded her. Bright and green. An oasis of enchantment. She sat up straight from her spot in a field of daffodils. Her eyes drifted to the crystal clear river close by and she hurriedly made her way over. She had changed. Her hair wasn't the red she had dyed a month ago. It was back to the raven colour she tried to cover up. A streak of stark white hair had made its way into her long hair. It was unfamiliar to her. She took the opportunity to give herself a once over.

Her face seemed younger, fresher in a way. She didn't have those dark circles under her eyes from months of no sleep and her eyes weren't sulking anymore. They were bright. Her body had felt healthier too. She finally stopped once her eyes fell onto the blood-red line that outlined her pinkie finger. She instantly pulled it closer to her chest, unsure of what to make of it.

"Did I die?" She asked herself, unsure of her surroundings. "Good heavens child, why are you sitting there all stunned? We have work to do." A male voice sounded behind her. She jumped at the sound and instantly turned to meet the person behind the voice.

A tall male stood before her. He was youthful with long black hair. He wore traditional Korean hanbok with a leafy green jacket and long white trousers. He had a wide hat on his head that had lilies and orchids filling the top of it. His jacket was lined with white poppies. "Who are you?" She questioned. "Why it's me Hallakgungi. Or maybe you might know me better as Igong." He replied whimsically.

Sakura's eyes widened at the realization. "Does that mean I've died?" She asked warily. "Yes, but don't fear it Sakura. This was only one lifetime. You still have many more ahead of you." He eyed her up and down and gently took her left hand. Inspecting it with a gentleness she had never felt. He turned it over till they were both staring at the dark red line that stretched the length of her pinkie finger. "It seems as though you haven't met your soulmate." He states. He let go of her hand and instantly turned to walk away from the river bank.

She examined her finger once again before quickly making her way till she fell into his pace. "What does it mean?" She asked. "Well, you died. Considering your hair is back to its natural state, as well as your skin." Igong stated.

"I mean the red line on my finger. Does this mean this is heaven?" Sakura asked unsure as she watched the flowers physically bloom around him. "This," He points to her finger. "This is the tie of a soulmate. This indicates that you still haven't met your soulmate, because if you had met him thing line would've turned white, but you haven't and so it is still blood red which indicates the blood connection is still active and searching."

"That's impossible. The red string theory is a matter of folklore." She stated without thinking. Her eyes quickly darted to the ground. "Well you are in the garden of life and death, so the red string theory might not be as stupid as it sounds," Igong said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Why am I here?" Sakura asked. "Well, you're my new apprentice." He stated. "Come now we must get you into the proper attire to help me." He added as he quickened his pace.

Sakura's legs tried but still struggled to keep up with his long strides into a towering building of pure white. "What will I be helping with exactly?" She asked exasperated as they finally reached the tall doors that were made completely of green hedges and beautiful blue butterflies.

She watched in awe as he swung open the door, the butterflies instantly making their way inside. "Well mostly taking care of the souls. Cutting out those who have had passed or should pass and planting the seeds of new souls going back to earth." Igong said, his voice monotonous as he walked inside. She blinked rapidly as she watched the vines that hung low on a nearby staircase physically reach out and blossom in front of him. As if it was a soft greeting of a warm welcome home.

She slowly entered after him, unsure if the vines would be as loving to her as they were to him, but were shocked at the sudden brush of a perfectly healthy vine wrapping gently around her hand and then slipping away. Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Don't be scared they know you're here to help," Igong said, almost reading her mind.

"So you want me to tend the garden of souls?" She asked, not sure she heard correctly. He walked over to a large dark cupboard and pulled out a white robe that looked to be made of silk and walked over. "Yes, I need some time to take care of a mishap that has happened and you will be tending to the gardens." He stated as he handed her the robe.

"You can wear this outside. It will protect you from any weather and other influences." He said opening the robe for me to slide into.

As she pulled it closer to her body she felt the bumps of intricate designs of flowers flowing all the way down from her neck to where the robe ended at her feet. "What do you mean other influences?" she asked confused. "This is the garden of life and death. That means all spirits are here. The good, the bad and those who often feel like they have entered limbo, but that's in the field of waves. You'll know it when you see it. Just stay away from the trees or you might enter the forest of disease." He said with a wave of the hand.

Her eyes widened. "I think this might be above my pay grade. I'm not capable of looking after the living and the dead." She stated her voice filled with fear. "Of course, you can. Otherwise, I wouldn't have picked you for this opportunity." He stated. "Now get outside so that I can teach you how things work around here." He said motioning toward the door.

***

Sakura watched in awe as Ignong once again showed her the workings of the garden. "So the seeds are babies coming into life. The growing and lively blossoms are people who are still alive and thriving. The ones that have petals or leaves falling are ready to be taken out of the garden and left in front of the forest so that those willow trees can absorb their last bit of energy." Igong said as he gently pulled the wilting daisy out of the soft ground.

"Doesn't it feel difficult? Having the power to give and take life, just like that." Sakura asked. Her heart felt a bitter-sweet tug from the pain of knowing someone just lost a family member but also knowing that they must have just left behind a lot of suffering.

A small smile sat faintly on Ignong's face as he turned to her holding the dead flower in his hands. "It is difficult, but no peace comes without suffering." He said gently. He stood from his place on the ground and walked over to the tall trees that sat at what seemed like the border of the garden. She followed quietly. Her eyes roamed over daisies, daffodils, cherry blossoms, orchids, sunflowers and a bunch of other gorgeous botanicals she couldn't even name.

She stopped immediately when he did and studied him as he gently placed the flower in front of the moss-covered willow tree. Within seconds the tree enveloped the small flower. It gave the feeling of a relative giving someone a hug they haven't seen in a long time. Not unfamiliar but still strange.

"You see, no matter how you see it from dust you come and to dust you will return. This is the law of nature. The circle of life or however you want to see it. It feels wrong but it doesn't mean it is." Igong said. "So do you think you can handle it?" He asked.

Sakura gave a slow nod. "Yes, I think I can manage."

"Good. Now, do you have any questions?" Igong asked with a smile. His eyes were bright. "Do you ever get attached to these souls? Do you nurture one more than the other just based on how they lived life?" Sakura asked, she visibly shrunk into herself remembering the things she had done at 16, things she did at 18 and even the day she last remembered before waking up here at only 23.

"We do not judge you as you were taught," Igong replied gently. He placed a hand on her shoulder making her lift her head to meet his eyes. "We care for all equally, the only ones who think you will be judged differently because of actions are you, mortals. You fear us, because of your own actions when you should be trusting us with your actions and have the knowledge to understand that we know your heart, body and soul more than the life you led." He added.

Sakura's shoulders fell with relief. For the first time, she didn't feel the fear of what might happen to her for her past actions. "Then I don't have anything else to ask." She said with a light laugh. "You don't have to beat around the bush with questions, Sakura. I'm not a monster. I am a God, but no monster." He said jokingly.

The sound was unfamiliar. Something that felt surreal to be heard from someone that was deemed holy.

"What happened here?" He asked as he noticed the white strip of hair surrounded by raven black. "I have no idea." She said honestly. Mindlessly touching the white that she knew wasn't her own. Igong offered her a nod. "Interesting." He replied.

Without as much as a greeting he left her standing there at the edge of the dark forest with nothing, but peace in her heart.

She stepped away from the willow tree that felt like it was about to envelop her and moved to the rows of pink, white and red. Gorgeous tulips filled rows upon rows of her site and she took her time as she watched each of them, she could've sworn that with each step they stood taller. A subtle greeting of acknowledgement in her presence. A breeze moved over the ocean of flowers letting the scent linger on her body as she passed a few more rows.

She walked until the sun bid the day farewell and the dark purples and blues awakened within the sky. Stars littered a shining path through the garden. She could only stare at the silver-covered atmosphere that had streaks of green moving through it.

A moment later her attention was brought back to the flowers before her. They weren't the colours you would naturally see them in. They all have turned luminescent. A greenish-blue see of tree leaves, flowers and bushes lit the path before her. Unsure of where to go she listened to her gut and followed the path that was made from years of trampled grass.

The path led her up to the white building of earlier and without so much as a hesitation, she entered the hedge door. She stopped in her tracks as she witnessed the full moon shining light directly onto the middle of the floor. The ivy from earlier slithered into her hand and pulled her up the white-flowered staircase. Out of fear she muttered a few apologies before reaching the top. The ivy had let go of her and in its place laid a simple yellow flower. She grabbed it close to her heart as she entered the rich oak door.

Upon entering a few glittering birds sat perched against the windowsill. The room was covered in white blossoms and even the sheets looked as if they were sown together from petals. She walked in closing the door behind her as she took the opportunity to fall onto the bed.

The satin sheets felt like heaven against her face, everything just felt dream-like and ethereal. Sakura was still unsure if she should've taken this seriously or if this was all a dream.