The Golden Button

^{Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash}

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No one could contemplate with their own eyes what I saw in front of me. No one. The golden cascades falling from Amethyst's head seemed to forget their fixed course and wanted to soar into the sky. The wind prevented them from falling on a pose of hips that swayed sensuously, stretching over the roots of slender arms and legs.

I love her, and I never doubted her love, but the circumstances of destiny ended up separating us for a fateful period. Before I get to that point, let me tell you about our life on the land we turned into a paradise.

We lived on a hill in the middle of silent swamps. Northern breezes accompanied us and ensured the freshness of our awakening. We sat for hours on top of limestone rocks, enjoying the spectacle of the sunrise, while the lazy tulips slowly opened their petals to absorb the glimmers they saw.

Animals did not come up the hill, except for the birds; which left their nests on the solitary trees scattered over the bright green grass. The singing of the birds boiled our hearts with pleasure, Amethyst would always lie on my shoulder as she listened to the tunes that enraptured her, then she would close her eyes and fall asleep.

I would always take her in my arms and kiss her before entering our home, let her rest on the bed, and then return to the outdoors of our piece of paradise. I picked a strange flower that had grown near my yard; I caressed it, the golden hue of its petals captivated me, it looked like a golden button spread beautifully. I carried it to the altar I had created for my mother and then left some prayers.

Sadness enveloped me like a gray, transparent veil, and several tears escaped my eyes. I let myself be carried away by the prevailing nostalgia and ended up stretched out in front of the altar, then I pulled myself together and returned home to my beloved.

Our routine was simple, we fished in the swamp rivers, catching small catfish, trout, barrels, and bleaks, then we passed the borders of the bald cypress trees until we reached the territory of the mangifers, where we got the most delicious fruit that we never tired of tasting.

One day we were happily picking and enjoying a quiet morning until I felt the presence of something lurking nearby. Its presence was not pleasant, I knew it in my bones. I looked at Amethyst almost transfixed and she changed her face as well. Her brown eyes turned gray from the looming danger, we grabbed our gear and fled quickly.

As we stood at the bottom of the hill, I felt the rumble of heavy footsteps following us. From the way he shuffled his feet in the grass, I deduced that it was something big. I clenched the handle of my knife tightly in preparation for what was coming until I heard a shriek behind me.

It was a huge man over six feet tall. His eyelids were pronounced as if he had gone days without sleep. His lower lip was split and turned upward; it was terrifying to look at him. He had Amethyst by the neck as the wretch took small steps backward. He stared at her for a few seconds, I made out in detail how the direction of his eyes was fixed on her face, neck, and chest. He brought his nose close to her golden hair and sniffed her in a repulsive manner; as if he were an animal with an uncontrolled desire.

I was overcome with rage and lunged towards him to attack him, our forces measured and neither of us wished to give in. My right hand, scorned by my opponent's anger, spasmed uncontrollably. The weapon I held shot out, taking the life of my beloved.

My enemy and I stood transfixed watching the fateful moment, Amethyst lay on the ground bleeding to death as I ran to hold her and the coward of her attacker fled until he was lost. I released a shriek of rage and carried her up the hill to our home.

She suffered; she gasped in delirium. Her hand began to feel cold and she was finding it harder and harder to breathe. I did everything I could to stop the damage, but to no avail; by the afternoon of that day, Amethyst gave me her last breath.

The mournful banshees gathered to attend my lament. Shadows ascended into the sky and became clouds; everything turned gray. The air became thick and darkness strolled as mistress of the place without showing any hint of sorrow. I could not bear the pain of seeing my beloved lifeless, so I went to my mother's altar to cry at her feet.

Agonizing and not knowing what would happen, I made a wish, I wanted Amethyst back with all my longing! I screamed and screamed with my throat already torn until a shot of light illuminated my face. The phenomenon came from the golden button I had left on the altar, it rose and dissolved into an amber powder that levitated to my home.

Flashes of light escaped through the windows, I went to them and stood in the door frame. Lit up like an angel, with a huge smile and holding a golden button in her hands, Amethyst was alive.

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THE END