I finally got to sit and stay in the garden alone with my thoughts

I got to feel the warmth of the summer rays come down upon me, kissing my skin and leaving my cheeks rouge

I got to laugh with the others occupying the garden, calling Eden their home

I got to lay in the massive fields of lilac, letting their swaying petals lull me into sleep

For once the sun did not set before its time, and for once I got to see the blessed stars. I got to feast on the fruit of my labor and hard work.

For once I had it all. For once I was what would be normal

But of course, she couldn't leave me long.

Her vile serpent head slid into my lap as I dreamt of finer days, and her grotesque body made her way around mine.

"So lovely" she whispers "So lovely" she coos. I'm none the wiser of my impending doom. "Such a lovely garden" her voice so much like mine "Such a lovely field" she admires it just like I. "Such a lovely place to visit" she reminds me, for this place isn't truly mine. "But like all excursions, you must come home someday."

Just as quickly as I snap from my naive daze, she's squeezing all the life and joy I worked hard to collect out of me. She's pinned me to the earth that I once saw as paradise, and she's dragging me back. Back to where I belong. Back to the lone, dead, apple tree of my winter prison. "I hope you enjoyed your masquerade" She hisses like the cold winds from hell. "I hope you enjoyed your farce" She spit venom that chilled my bones.

She opened the gate with no effort at all, dragging me from those pristine fields of delicate lilacs and poppies. No matter how much I kicked, bit, and screamed, she overpowered my diminutive frame.

"I've missed you so much" She sobs "I've missed our talks"

What talks?

"Talks filled with doubt and self-loathing, talks that remind you of your place. Talks that keep you here, away from the dangers of Eden."

I desperately dig my nails into the permafrosted dirt. I did my best to stave off her attack, but she knew my spell had worn. She knew my time had come.

"I miss the talks. The talks of death. The talks of rotting to nothing. The talks of famine and talks of war."

My skin turns blue with the touch of ice. The realm I belong to has welcomed me back with a kiss. Flecks of dreadful snow fall from a starless sky. Its dark,

quiet.

The chatter of that perfect garden is gone.

I was alone now,

"Come, let's sit by the apple tree." She whispers again to me. This tree bore no fruit, and it was her favorite place to perch. "Let's sit by the apple tree and sleep. Sleep like we always do."

I try my best to wriggle from her grasp, but to the desolate apple tree, she keeps me.

"Aren't you tired?" She pouts before constricting me. My vision goes bleary as I struggle for air. The frost of hell did nothing to aid my crushing lungs. "Sleep, we're so tired." She purrs. "We've done so much, It's time for sleep"

The sporadic snowfall frosts the blackened apple tree I'm being held hostage to, and I remember my place. I remember my place is under the apple tree. I remember my place is in the cold snow. I remember my place is in this desolate landscape. Pestilence's garden.

She is me.

I am her.

I can never fully escape.

Black.