A starless night hung high above us, both Polaris and a weakened moon shrouded by thick, punishing clouds. Their rain poured heavy, drenching us to the core, forcing us to remain huddled and inseparable to maintain some semblance of warmth and comfort. During times like these, I was more than grateful that Genesis loomed over me with her towering figure and seemingly inexhaustible endurance, practically carrying me through pits of clay and mud. Grass and roots and trees, there were none. Vegetation had long left the land, exhausted and malnourished at least as long as our lives would reach. The entire region had been uprooted and cleansed by Mother's wrath, Hurricane Ismael left little to survive upon and even less to rebuild. Some decades had passed since then, yet the land remained mostly unclaimed. As much wrath was wrought on the land, twice wrought on man. However, in the distance, through brief flashes of lightning and pauses in Mother's lament, we finally glimpsed that which we'd long sought.

As we approached, even under the downpour, shadows began to take shape. Amidst rubble and ruin, candlelight glimmered through tall, lightly tinted mosaic window panes. Once close enough, I realized what odd figures hid behind the glass. Rows and columns of potted plants ran through the building, all different colors, shapes, and sizes. We then glimpsed a man writing feverishly into a notebook facing away from us. The same man who called upon us for aid, or so we hoped, lest this turn into a chance encounter with a decent stranger at best. At worst, Genesis nodded to me as she cocked the hammer of her revolver, yet kept it holstered, and reached for the inelegant metal door that strangely fit in with the rest of the home so roughly pieced together. Her bare knuckles rapped briefly; we listened to the man shuffle about for a moment before finally reaching the door, barely parting it open while holding a candle beneath his face, lighting the way for shrewd, narrow eyes.

"What're y'all doin' out here in this damn rain?"
"Good evenin', sir. Are you Charles Thibedeoux?"
"Yes'm, that'd be me."
"I'm Eliza, and this is Genesis. You called our office some days ago, said ya needed help with something about a garden?"
"Ah, yes'm. Ma garden ain't doin' too good these days. But here, lemme git on outta yer' way, please. Lemme git you ladies outta the rain."

The stout man quickly stepped back and held the door wide open, allowing us to promptly slip inside. He took our coats and had us put our shoes before the fire to dry, offering us pairs of old, mismatched slippers to use in the meantime, accompanied by some rags to wipe ourselves down some. The three of us sat facing each other in front of the fire, Genesis and I on smooth tree trunks, and Charles in a worn-down recliner that looked like it'd recline permanently if given the chance. With light all around, at last, I got a good look at the man. His skin was a rough leather, weathered and tanned by a lifetime beneath the sun. The hair on his head was long gone, with eyebrows and a mustache as gray as the clouds looming above the only remainder. Despite his older appearance, the man still moved with some refinement and maintained strength, as it became clear he was the only one maintaining this home and garden, and seemingly well enough to keep it all clean.

"So, Mr. Thibedeoux. What exactly is it you called us for?"
"Right, well. Ma garden needs help, miss'm. I should've clarified over the line, but I was short on time that day. Y'see, it's dyin'. It's all dyin'. It ain't just 'cause of the season, either. Now, these beauties should be blossoming! But they aren't, and I don't know why. In all my life, I ain't ever seen anythin' like it, and there's nothin' I can do to help. It's breakin' my heart. These lovelies... They're all I've got left. I've tried everything I could think of, I've poured through old books I had, everything... Nothin'. I guess... I guess I was hoping you'd know someone out there in one of 'em cities that could help."
The way his voice would rise and fall, occasionally even break, made my heart ache. The pain only grew when both Genesis and I solemnly shook our heads.
"Mister... Ain't no one out there even got gardens like these anymore, few and far between. Most of 'em are fakes, plastics 'n such. There are some of the finer folk that do but they sure as hell don't know how to revive 'em, they just go order some new ones from the North. Gen, anything or anyone come to mind?"
"No. Not near here at least, and certainly not anyone we could get to before it's too late. You really should've explained this to us over the line, Mr. Thibedeoux. Would've saved us the trip in the rain, at least."
I gave Genesis a scowl at her remark, but I knew I agreed with her beneath my heartache. Gazing upon the plants, some were beginning to blossom, but many were whithering, browning, and drying out.
"Yes'm, you'se right... I was a fool, I reckon. My apologies then, 'fer wastin' y'all's time 'n havin' y'all come on out here. Please, stay the night, at least till the rain clears. It's the least I can offer."
"No-"
"We're grateful, Mr. Thibedeoux. Gen and I will think a little harder in the meantime, see if we can't figure somethin' out with that big brain of hers."
The old man simply nodded and gestured to a torn and battered sofa in the corner. "Sorry to say but that's the closest thing to a guest bed I've got. I'll leave you ladies to it." And with that, he retreated to a room next to the fireplace, carefully shutting the door behind him.

"We'll figure something out then, huh?" Gen asked, giving me a tired look before heading over to the sofa, surprisingly careful in setting herself down upon it, considerate of her shell's density as she undressed down to a pair of boxers and a t-shirt.
"I don't know, Gen. Plants ain't our thing, we're just errand boys, dammit."
"Shh, come here. Let's just get some rest for now, alright?"
I nodded and peeled off all but my tank top and thin shorts, wary of the worn sofa's ability to handle our combined weight as I slid into Genesis' lap and curled up, burrowing into her frame. Tired and beaten from the trip, despite my aching muscles, it wasn't long before I drifted off into a slumber, aided by the warmth and rhythmic breathing of Genesis.

I awakened, my body held up and soothed all over by gentle blades of grass. I lay there with my eyes shut for a while, listening to the buzzing of bees, the cheery wind blow through and around the greenhouse, and the chirping of the birds not much farther away in the canopy above. Slowly, I opened my eyes, greeted by bouncing bets and butterfly vines hanging overhead, my ears tingled by the bees sipping on the nectar provided by the blossom of summer. Sunlight peeked through stained mosaic glass, casting a rainbow enchantment throughout the greenhouse. A beautiful day, far unlike any other.

"I thought I'd find ya here, Maria," called out a voice behind me as I slowly rose to my feet, being ever careful to not step on any delicate rangoon creepers reaching for the sun nearby. Turning back, I came face to face with the voice, now embodied by a middle-aged man.
"Oh, Charlie, I was watering the plants when I just... Felt really tired, for some reason."
"I told ya to not work yerself so hard, woman," the man replied with a smile, yet a hint of worry lingered behind his visage. I simply shook my head with a smile and gracefully laughed it off as I hung my arms around his neck, placing a loving kiss against his chin.
"Don't worry, vaquerito. I'm tougher than I look."
"Don't I know it," he murmured, chuckling as he embraced me. "I missed you."
"I missed you too. You were gone for a while this time."
"I know. It'll be the last time though. Field's no good for me anymore. I think... I know, I know I'm ready to settle down here, take care of ya properly 'n all."
"My, you're finally gonna take care of lil ol' me? What a blessed day then," I retorted with some sweet sarcasm, yet apologized with another kiss. "I'm happy to hear that. It's a little too quiet with you away."
"I figured, 'least we'll each other plenty busy, I'm sure. With the money I got from the last job I was thinkin'... What if we make the greenhouse bigger, like the one yer' mama used to have?"
"When did you become so hellbent on being a good man, Charles Thibedeoux?"
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes, I'd love to."
"Alrighty, miss'm. I'll make some calls and we'll get started tomorrow mornin'. Lunch is ready, by the way."
"You really have changed, haven't you?"
"Just learned and wised up some, is all."

I woke up to the sound of Genesis' slow, rhythmic breathing. As I parted my eyes, I saw she was already awake, gently moving her hand up to run her fingers through my hair.
"Good morning."
"Mornin'."
"Slept well?"
"Weird dream."
"Mm. Tell me about it."
"Later. Is the old man up?"
"Haven't seen or heard a peep from him since last night."
"What time is it?"
"Just an hour or so before noon."
"Bit late for a guy so devoted to his garden, ain't it? Maybe we should check on him."
"I'm not sure intruding into his bedroom is the best idea."
"Just a peek. But you do it, with your fancy eyes 'n all."
"Fine."

We both untangled from one another and rose off the sofa, got dressed, then carefully made our way to the bedroom. I pressed my ear to the door but heard nothing save the gentle breeze outside. I looked at Genesis with worry, then stepped aside. She kept a hand hovering above her holster as she slowly turned the doorknob and gave it a light pull, parting just enough between the doorway for her to get a glimpse inside. Her shoulders stiffened, then dropped along with both arms. The door continued to swing outwards on its own, letting out a creak, and only silence followed. From Gen's expression alone, I already knew, yet I pulled her back, then stepped inside and gazed upon the bed where the dead Charles Thibedeoux lay. The old man wore a peaceful expression, a thin yet sincere smiles. Gen and I looked at one another and sighed.

At the center of the greenhouse was a festering blossom of rangoon creepers, and hanging above, bouncing bets and butterfly vines. There, amidst them in the ground, a mound and a small, unmarked stone. Genesis searched for a shovel, and I prepared Charles' body. It didn't take Genesis long to dig a neighboring hole, and it didn't take me much longer to finish the ritual and preparations for Charles. With utmost grace and respect, we lay the deceased elder down. Genesis watched as I recited prayers, then we both proceeded with the burial. In place of a stone, I left a sapling of an oak and one more prayer.

"There's a town not too far from here, we can stay the night there."
"What's the matter, Gen, scared of seein' a ghost couple?"
"Seen enough of those already. Let's get going."

We tidied up the sofa some and put out all the remaining candles, along with settling the embers of the fireplace, before we left the garden home. The twin suns were already beginning to descend across the horizon, leaving us an hour or two at best before we'd be under the guise of darkness again, but the sky remained clear of any cloud. As we tread on, a thought kept nagging at the back of my head, an urge to turn back and get one last look. Genesis kept her gaze out and forwards, leading me along. Unable to resist any longer, before we'd cross over a hill and turn our backs forever, I decided to look at the greenhouse one final time. Even at a distance, I could see the candles flicker to life, the flowers blossom in full bloom, and a couple so in love, dancing the night away.