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Out of Season (13) : One would think that winter would be dismal and gray, and after each snowfall there's a hefty dose of white covering up the world. Except, all winter bright patches of wildflowers begin sprouting straight through the frost--as if spring has decided to push its way into winter a few months early. Blues, pinks, yellows, and purples bloom in vivid clusters, warming the landscape with bursts of color that look impossibly alive against the cold. The flowers behave exactly like their normal spring counterparts--soft petals, gentle fragrance, and even suitable for tea or simple crafts. They’re simply appearing far too early. Whether it’s a harmless anomaly or a sign of something stirring beneath the seasons, the sudden blossoms bring an unexpected beauty to the winter chill.
It was cold and gray. Bleak as winter was apt to be but even then there was beauty in the starkness. The sheer contrast between the white snow and the dark branches or the artificial lights from the upcoming holiday. Nate had actually been out picking up the last little gift, focused on getting in the store, finding the right present, and getting out without being mauled by the crowds. It was wall to wall people, a background of holiday music muffled by arguing and snapping couples. The holidays tended to bring out the worst in people, especially those who were doing last minute shopping like he was. Nate kept his sanity intact by keeping his head down and wasn’t too worried about how the world around him looked or acted. He just wanted to get home. So outside of avoiding slushy puddles or yellow snow, the man did his best to focus on where he was going and not what was around him but as he walked through the local park on the way back to the apartment a flash of color where there shouldn’t be, had him looking up. Really paying attention.
At first the flowers left him confused, dismissing them as a prank or an art installation, but they looked real. Not plastic or glass. Real plants, with real colors, and real variations. Like someone had come in and planted all the flowers just because but there was no real indication of such work. Just footprints, a few broken stems, and animal tracks. No drastic digging of the snow, no dirt clumps, just normal everyday marks in the snow…. And bright flowers.
Nate knew what he needed to do, and no it wasn’t to pick some flowers for Dessie, he knew there was likely some magical reason for it so he wouldn’t dare bring such a thing into their home, but it definitely needed to be documented. He might not have had his camera for his hobby, the one that had higher resolution, zoom, and other features, but he did have his phone. It would do well enough, and he could always try to get back out with his ‘real’ camera later.
With the plastic bag looped around his arm the young man took several pictures. Drifting a few steps to the left or the right for the best angle, and lighting. After just a few moments he had more than enough, some he was even quite surprised by. Beautiful composition of color and light against the white snow and the dark trees in the background. Very surreal and magical. It looked almost like a digitally manipulated photo where the background was desaturated and only the flowers remained colorful. Nate wanted to get closer. To take more detailed photos, more isolated pictures, but he kept his distance. Weary about what the colorful blooms could do. Remembering some of the tales he had been told and keeping a respectful distance even as he documented it.
“I should get them flowers,” He murmured to himself even as he finished taking pictures. It would be nice to see the surprise on Dessie’s face and Sarah would love them as well. With one last look at the unseasonable flowers Nate moved on, already mentally mapping the closest flower shop to their house. They really would be a sweet surprise especially in this very wintery and cold season.
