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“Oh? Oh no.”
They were taking their hat off when Sesam noticed that some of the flowers that decorated it were already wilting, darkened and almost-dried petals exhaling their last breaths of life.
“Well, it was bound to happen,” they mumbled to the air, running a careful fingertip over the flowers, marveling at the delicate texture that could be felt even through the gloves. “I’m just surprised it took this long. You really held on, didn’t you?”
As Sesam removed them from the improvised bouquet, they couldn’t help but talk to the plants, gentleness lowering their tone until it was nothing but a whisper of warm air, visible against the coldness of the morning. They were thankful for moments like those, a waiting between errands, that allowed them to go to the fields and just… be. It made them feel free. Whole.
The Morgana got off the driver’s seat of their carriage with a quick jump, placing their hat over the empty space. After picking up the wilted flowers, Sesam walked towards the grasshopper horses and greeted them both with a light pat to their carcassed foreheads.
“Care for an appetizer?” they teased, dividing the flowers as equally as they could. “There’s some daisies in here, your favorites.”
While the horses indulged in the stems and petals, Sesam looked around, searching for any color that bloomed against the brown blanket of dead leaves. Autumn was merciless, they thought, although that didn’t make it any less fascinating and pleasant to live through. Of course, they still preferred the fresh air of spring, the hope of new beginnings fluttering its wings around them as sunlight peeked from every corner. The flowers were plenty then, a sea of them presenting endless possibilities of potential bouquets that could accompany Sesam in their travels.
Soon, the air whispered.
Specks of yellow caught their attention, the flowers waving at them as they swayed near one of the many trees. Sesam got close to greet them, and only then could they recognize what they were: dandelions. A soft smile lifted the ends of Sesam’s lips. Their old friends.
“Good day to you too.” Couching down, Sesam could differentiate each bright petal, the bud of a wish hiding between them. “Would you like to come with me?”
A dandelion tipped in their direction, as if nodding. Or so they liked to think.
As always, they were gentle in their picking, making sure to leave enough of the stem so the flowers could grow back easily with time. Some of the dandelions were starting to become seed heads, and some were already puffing proudly (and very temptingly), so Sesam was even more cautious. The deliberate movements of their fingers threading through the small bush, a careful balance of their feet and even the control of their breath; every move had been perfected by that point in their life, every action guided by muscle memory.
(“Please explain yourself, Sesamus.” The tone made it clear it wasn’t a petition they could deny. It wasn’t harsh or overbearing; just a firm demand that came from behind them as they were placing some asphodels they had stumbled upon that morning in their hat. “All these eccentricities. First the clothes, now the flowers…”
“It’s comfortable, mother,” they had replied, a low, neutral tone, unusual in someone as juvenile as they had been. Calm, controlled, just like their movements. “I don’t think I need any other reason.”
“Well, I do. We had so many frocks made for you, and… are you even listening, child?”
After putting on the hat, Sesam had raised their head to look in the mirror, red irises bright with delight and a matching smile curving their lips. The butterfly wings under their eyes fluttered as their cheeks rose.
“Don’t I look charming?”)
A murmur of the leaves let the grasshopper horses know the Morgana had returned; four yellow flowers were resting in one of their gloved hands, and the horses’ antennae twitched with curiosity.
“These aren’t for you yet”, their voice came, mischief clear in the tone. “Wait a couple days and then we’ll see.”
Sesam climbed to the driver’s seat once again, perching their hat in one hand as the other placed the dandelions in between the rest of the wildflowers. There was something relaxing in the act that cleared their mind of any unnecessary memories and left them with a warm feeling spreading in their chest. It was always nice to have new companions.
Once they were satisfied with the arrangement (their bouquets had an order that no one else noticed, not that they needed to), Sesam placed it on top of their head again, a proud huff expanding in the air. Everything felt right, exactly as it should.
“Come on, now,” they herded the horses, who slowly started the way back to where they had come from. “We’ll arrive just in time.”