It turns dark and the clouds gather, the lightning flashes and roars, but this time I am not afraid. The flower in my hand, I stand, watching the grass from where I plucked it from.

The rain drizzles and the trees sway. It feels breezy.

“I’m sorry. Are you happy now? Are you happy now that you took my sister? I shouldn’t have taken your flower, Mr Forest! Are you happy now?” I cry. The tears finally come.

The trees settle and gentle breeze takes over. Then suddenly, a soft womanly voice speaks.

“You shouldn’t mess with forbidden things. That flower wasn’t just a beautiful flower. It’s a sacrifice. A peace offering, between two feuding families. They each sacrificed their bloodline for peace. You weren’t supposed to take it.” 

I look around. I see no one.

“By taking the flower, you’ve unleased the anger and wrath of these families ancestors. You disrupted their peaceful sleep. They had to take your sister, as compensation. Her soul was pure and innocent.”

“I’ve brought it back.” I cry

“Put it down and leave, little girl.”

I drop the flower and leave.

**

When I get home, I see mom and dad with other members of the community.

Finally, I cry in front of my parents.

“I’m sorry.” I sob, walking to them

My parents run to me. I’m surprised why they’re hugging me like that.

“Don’t you ever do that again!” Dad says.

“Do what?” I ask, crying

“Walk off..into the night, look at your pajamas. They’re dirty.” Mom squeezes me

“I was sleep walking?” I stutter

“Yes honey. Look, we even started a community search party.” Dad hugs me

So if I was sleep walking..then that means, I was..dreaming? Did that mean..

“Where is Nqobile?” I ask

I don’t need my parents to answer that question, because I see Nqobile running towards me, smiling. “You came back! You came back!” She shouts as I pick her up.

“It was all a dream. You’re alive.” I squeeze her.

“Let’s go see if our flower has stopped bleeding.” Nqobile wriggled off my grip.

“We are taking it back to the forest, Nqo. In the afternoon.”

“Why?”

“It belongs to some..families.” I smile, hugging my sister once more.