“The more petals that bloom, the worse the symptoms become. These include memory loss, hemoptysis, nosebleeds, headaches, and digestive issues.
The strange thing about the Black Flower is that outwardly, the person appears perfectly fine. Even as the body rots from within, the face only grows more radiant as the petals bloom.”

“…Well. I guess that’s a relief.”

They say that when you’re about to die, you start to find things to be grateful for. It’s laughable, really.

I’m still going to die, but here I am, finding comfort in not looking horribly sick as I go.

Still, I know exactly how much of a blessing that is. Watching someone visibly waste away… it terrifies everyone. The person, and the ones around them.

It’s a constant fear. Of dying. Of living.

So to leave behind a face that looks untouched… what a gift that is.