A dead plant causes great sadness

So many questions flooded my brain.

Who? What? Why? How did this all happen? Whatever the reason was, the fact that this plant was growing here changed the course of many things.

It also means that I can stop my search of Wyfi. And if it already reproduced a bunch of baby Wyfi flowers over here... who knows where else it could have sprouted.

This was perfect! I could feel my inner fire growing larger and larger with this new information. My mind started racing with all the different possibilities and occurrences of where other little plants would have sprouted.

I looked back at the mini-Wyfi. It looked so harmless. It was just a baby. Even though I wanted to stay here and look after it, I'm sure it can manage. After all, plants used to grow and care for themselves without the assistance of people, centuries ago.

Suddenly a thought comes up. Wait! What time is it? I took out my phone and checked. I almost dropped my phone when I saw the time. It was almost evening. And I swear that when I came out here it'd just been morning.

Taking one last look at the baby plant, I smiled then headed out the door. And for the first time, when walking back home, I felt at ease. Like everything was going to be perfectly fine.

***

When I got home, I did my usual things. Take a shower, make dinner, and other evening chores. After all of that, I sat down with my dinner and turned on the TV again, just to see if Wyfi appeared.

But like usual, I was about to turn off the news the instant I turned it on, thinking there was nothing about the plant. But to my surprise, the first image that popped on the news was indeed Wyfi.

"-were transporting the plant into the laboratory, the Elezier has unexpectedly-" the TV went black again. So did all of the other lights in the house. One moment it was on, the next moment it shut down. Everything. I was standing in a pitch black room.

And apparently it wasn't just me. None of the other houses or other street lights were on as well. It was another black out. Which meant that another Wyfi-plant was near.

Just then I heard a click, and the door opened. I screamed and jumped back, dropping my whole bowl of noodles onto the carpet. I know for a fact I would get in trouble for that, but currently there were other problems that needed to be addressed.

"Xeni? Are you here?" I heard Mom's voice call out.

"Yea, I'm here." I call out from the hallway.

Just then I heard Dad's voice. "Another blackout? But I thought that thing died."

"What?" I ask, completely confused. "What died?"

No response. I could tell that my parents were trying to come up with a lie to tell me. Something that sounded believable. Probably something that they weren't able to tell me, as it was "confidential information".

Finally, my Mom responds with, "You didn't see the news? I thought the announced it to the world?"

"I was, but the power went out right when they were announcing the interesting part." I pause for a moment. "Wait... this isn't about Wy- I mean, the Elezier, is it?"

If my parents happened to notice my slip up, they didn't say anything. "You didn't hear? The plant died."

My mouth went agape, and so many mixed emotions swirled in my stomach. Was it sadness? Relief? Disappointment? Grief? I couldn't tell.

"Xeni? Are you crying?" Mom asked. How she was able to tell tears were falling out of my eyes while it was pitch black in here, I don't know. Even I didn't know I was crying. I guess it was a mother's instinct.

"N-no," I attempted to lie. But it was no use.

"I know you are," she paused, then asked, "Why are you crying over a plant you never met?"

There were so many reasons. I have looked after this plant since the day I found its seed. I've talked with it. And I was also the reason for its death, in a way. I wanted to tell my Mom all of this, but... I couldn't.

"I... I don't know," I responded. "I guess its because a plant died. A plant that had potential to become an entire species."

"Xeni, you know it's dangerous for the Elezier to reproduce. It's the reason we're in this blackout. The plant died while it's unfortunate, it's for the best," Mom gently said.

I just nodded, not saying a word.

"We should probably start finding a source of light now. Who knows how long the power will stay out?" Dad commented. Then there was a rustling now, the sound of people moving around.

"Right," I responded, wiping away my tears.

The spilled food can wait... at least I hope so. Right now, what we all need is some light.