"Okay, now tell me what happened."
Venelope turned the key and gently pushed open the squeaky door to the greenhouse, their secret hideout. And as usual the smell of soil, warm glass, and faint floral smell filled the air like a balm.
Jay stepped in behind her, blinking at the golden sunlight filtering through the dusty panes. Her hand brushed over a hanging vine near the door as if to ground herself.
Venelope turned around and placed her hands on her pelvis. "Don't think you'll get away with a cute laugh or another joke this time. I've been waiting since you said you don't know whats going on with you
Jay blinked, a little startled, though she had a hunch that venelope will ask her. "ahhhh... so you remember what I said?"
Venelope narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "Of course I remember. You didn't said it a year ago… you said it this morning! Bytheway even if you said it a year ago I would still remember..." venelope said as she rolled her eyes like thinking something… then suddenly said… Jay Miller! DON'T change the topic!!! You were pale as skim milk and looked like you hadn't slept in a week. I may act like a butterfly, Ms, but I've got a brain, just so you know."
Jay chuckled softly, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I just… didn't think you would actually remember what I said uselessly."
"Well, I did, and now we're here." She gestured dramatically to the overgrown greenhouse. "So, tell me what happened… why such a havocked condition?"
As they sat down together on the old wooden bench under the climbing roses. Jay's fingers trembled slightly as she fidgeted with a cracked clay pot beside her.
"I… I don't know where to start."
"hmmm… start with whats disturbing you… because I can see something is not setting right with you, something happened this weekend didn't it?" Venelope offered gently, brushing a leaf off Jay's shoulder.
Jay exhaled and began, slowly, as if testing her own memory. "So, I went home. No one was there, as usual. And I thought maybe… maybe someone would notice I wasn't feeling well. But instead, I got scolded for something petty."
Venelope's brows furrowed.
"Then I thought the next day was Monday and got up early to go to uni, but turns out it was Sunday. I'd lost track of time… I was almost ready… but then I realized so… I thought of going to the library."
Venelope was listening to her with a calm expression. Jay continued
"I still hadn't eaten. I just… wandered to the library. I sat there for hours, flipping through a novel … I can't seem to remember the name… it said something like a tree in brooklyn… I don't remember clearly…it was good and it struck a chord. Then something happened and I came out…and started walking by the road."
Jay paused, her voice growing thinner. "On the way back, I saw a girl. A little one, maybe seven or eight, selling flowers by the roadside. All of them were beautiful, but there was this one tiny plant. It looked strange. Different. I don't even know what it was. But I bought it."
Venelope tilted her head, smiling softly.
Jay gave a small laugh. "I brought it home. My parents were having lunch. They didn't offer me any. Not that I was hungry at that point."
She fell quiet.
Venelope waited. Then reached out and gently touched her shoulder.
"That's not everything, is it?"
Jay looked away.
"Jay… if you believe I can help you, then you can choose to be honest with me."
Jay swallowed hard and looked at venelope… there was misery in her eyes floating like tears... "There was a dream," she finally whispered. "Or at least I think it was a dream. I don't know anymore. I was in a hospital. There was a drip. A man held my hand and told me not to worry. I thought it was my dad. But it wasn't. I… I still remember how his hand felt."
She looked down at her own, curling her fingers slowly. "And I was in so much pain. My stomach hurt so bad, I couldn't move. And then I woke up. In my room. And everything was back to normal. Like nothing had happened. The dream felt so real… I really was in pain…but then as I woke up in my room I think it was all a dream…"
Venelope was quiet for a while. Then, softly, "Jay… why didn't you tell me?"
Jay looked up, ashamed. "I didn't think you'd believe me. I didn't even believe myself."
Still you could have told me …" venelope insisted.
Jay's head was down… she was embarrassed, "I didn't have you number…"
Venelope's face softened. She reached into her bag without a word and pulled out a small lunch box. She held it out, but not forcefully, just enough to catch Jay's eye.
"I cooked this today. And I really need someone to taste it. You know, in case I accidentally poisoned myself."
Jay blinked. "You cooked?"
"Hey! I can cook… occasionally." She gave a theatrical sigh. "Please, madam, take pity on a beginner and have a bite."
Jay's eyes flicked to the lunchbox, then back to Venelope's sincere smile. Her stomach gave a small growl. She felt shy, almost guilty accepting it. "You're not pitying me, right?"
Venelope laughed. "I never pity. I pamper. Big difference."
Jay hesitated, then took the box. Inside were small, slightly lopsided sandwiches. They weren't perfect, but they smelled like warmth and safety.
She took a bite. Then another.
Venelope watched her quietly, hiding her grin as Jay visibly relaxed, the stress melting from her shoulders.
"Not bad, huh?" she asked casually, nibbling on a sandwich herself.
Jay gave a small smile, her lips full. "Actually… they're amazing. You made these for me?"
"No," Venelope said airily, "I made them for the Queen of England but figured she was busy, so you're the second-best royal I could find."
Jay laughed again, this time for real.
"Of course I made it for us! Though I didn't know if you would like it or not…haha … give me your phone"
"Nah they are great … thanks for thinking of me… here" jay said while handing venelope her phone.
I will not talk to you if you said thank you or sorry again! This is warning!" Venelope said while wiping her mouth and leaned her head back against the vine-covered wall as she saved her number in jay's phone and gave it back to her. "So. Tell me, what was the plant you bought?"