Chapter 112: Garden

“You must always have a connection to the earth.” My mother declares. She holds a blackberry cane in her hand. “The bramble provides protection, the berry sustenance, and when you are older, wine.” She giggles.

My mother is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. The sunlight follows her, as if Helios himself uses the golden rays to highlight her beauty. Her golden hair, looking like a crown of gold, regal and elegant. Even now, on her knees in the garden, her face flecked with dirt and sweat, she is ethereal. A painting worthy of display. I hope to have even a drop of her beauty in me.

“Planting is a sacred ceremony.” She says.

“Yes, mama.” I squeak, my baby voice not yet gone. Before Dmitry was in my mother’s womb. Before my father was gone. Before.

“Never take the creation of life for granted.” She says as she holds the crane in her hand. “We call to the Northern Spirit. To the Guardian of the soil and earth. Hear our call!”

I giggle. Mama always has strange ways of sayin