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Moustache and the next thing he knew, she Happy left. Summer was ending, and something in him. He wasn’t sure what it a bottle - a goodbye gift from Saida - with
was kneeling beside him. He slowly turned she had to go back to the city, which she was, but he could sense there was something water, half full, and placed a carefully-
to look at her. really wished she didn’t need to. But she’d different. It was in the way he didn’t find plucked ghost orchid in it. He put all these
“Ghost orchids!” She chirped, her face cheered up at the thought that she’d be talking to Mr Moustache as enjoyable as in the backpack Saida had made for him
glowing in excitement. “Miss Anna - my able to show Miss Anna and her friends at he’d used to, or anything else, really. and took one last look at the forest.
Biology teacher - showed these to us at school the many photos they’d taken of the
school just last week. Aw, I should’ve Moustaches - no, ghost orchids - and many It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy doing anything To be honest, he was scared. Of leaving his

brought my camera along. She’d be thrilled other plants whose names she’d taught him. by himself anymore. Was it? It was just home. Of leaving all the things he’d grown
to know I’d found a bunch of ghost orchids She really had a thing for plants. that… it wasn’t the same. Before he’d met up with.
in the countryside!” her he’d been happy being by himself. He’d
The summer had been an adventure dreaded the idea of being with another But as much as he hated to admit it, he
“Ghost orchids?” He frowned, shaking for both of them. They’d found a new human being. Of having to act like how missed Saida. So, he was going to look
his head. “No - that’s Mr. Moustache. And friend in each other in the woods - how people expected you to act around people. for her in the city. He could ride in a car
that’s Mrs. Moustache, and that’s Curly -” enchanting! - and for Tom, his first. He didn't know how. He lived in his own and maybe ask around for a TV. See for
They’d built a wooden cottage with the little bubble, oblivious to the rest of the himself if the city was really as bad as she
She giggled. “Aww, you name plants?” This help of Saida’s grandmother. Saida had world. His head was full of interesting ideas said. Because, who knew - maybe he’d like

left him even more confused. “No,” he made him a backpack that looked just like and colourful worlds that would be too it there. Maybe he’d find more people like
struggled to find words. “Didn’t you… just her own, which he’d placed in a box with exhausting to try to translate into words Saida. People who didn’t shun him for
name it yourself?” Tom’s treasure carved onto it. He’d started that people understood. being himself. Then he could live with
learning about the city; the buildings and her and come back to the woods every
“No? ‘Ghost orchid’ is like its common the cars and the planes. His eyes shone at But somehow, with her, he wanted to. Little summer. They’d be able to spend time
name. Like how you are called a human, the mention of it all, though for reasons by little, he tried to translate his world into together every day.
but your name is…” she squinted at his he could not yet understand, Saida always her language. She listened. She didn’t think
face. “You haven’t told me your name.” talked about it with a look of disgust. “It’s he was boring, or weird. She didn’t expect With a hopeful smile, he hefted the
much, much better here, trust me. I would him to act in any certain way. He didn’t backpack onto his shoulders and started
He shifted uncomfortably. He pondered for stay here and never leave. I wouldn’t even have to pretend to be someone he wasn’t. walking.
a moment if he should run away as quickly need a TV.” But he’d never even seen a TV. God, she didn’t even find it weird that he

and as far as he could and he’d never have talked to flowers.
to see this strange girl again, but he saw She’d also helped him discover some
her earnest face, the gleam in her eyes. He incredible things about himself. For Now everything was just… dull without
pursed his lips in defeat. “It’s Tom,” he said, example, he could scream really, really her. Without seeing her crack her daredevil
the word sounding strange coming from loudly, which he did when he jumped grin or hearing her cackle. No one to tell
himself. “My name is… Tom.” over a cliff into the lake. He still couldn’t him what species it was when he saw a
believe she’d managed to make him do it. butterfly. No one to throw rocks at in the
She beamed her bright beam, “Well, nice to He could still feel the coldness of the rocks stream. No one to play hide and seek with
meet you, Tom!” And extended her hand. beneath his feet, the chilly breeze ruffling in the corn field. No one to tell ghost stories

He stared at it for a few seconds before his hair as he braced himself before taking with in dark nights lit only by eerie firelight.
remembering he was supposed to shake the step forward onto nothing - the plunge, He would find himself shouting for her
it. Begrudgingly, he took it. Her hand felt falling, falling, and the screaming, oh, the to come over when he found a rare plant,
surprisingly warm. Looking at her freckled screaming - and then splash. Second splash. only to remember with a heavy weight of
face and toothy smile, he suddenly didn’t Laughing. Arms thrashing. Repeated cries emptiness in his chest that she wasn’t here.
feel so tense anymore. of Oh my god.
So a week after the day Saida Happy left,
It was a day like any other, the day Saida And most importantly, she’d opened up he picked lots and lots of berries. He filled

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