Once upon a time, in a quaint little village, there lived a young girl by the name of "Willow". In ways unmatched by any other maiden, Willow was alluring beyond comparison. With fair hair of shining gold, innocent doe-shaped eyes, and a voice so soothing it could calm even the vilest of tempers, Willow's beauty was a manifestation of the kindness that ruled her innermost character.

One day, on one of her many walks through the sun-drenched wood that crowded the back of her lonely cottage, Willow came across a field of bluebottle flowers. At the center of this sea of baby blue petals there stood the most captivating flower she had ever seen.

As she drew closer to admire it, Willow began to hear the flower whispering to her. At first, a little taken aback, as Willow had never heard of any flower that could speak so clearly and eloquently, she soon crouched down until she rested face to face with the magical plant.

"Oh, come here my dear, let me view you at a nearer distance."

    With a nervous, yet slightly excited, tone, Willow managed a small, "Hello," towards this puzzling conundrum. In quick response, the bluebottle declared his intentions with a flourish. Smiling to herself, and a little astounded by Aciano's confidence, Willow introduced herself with as much manner and charm as she could muster.

"Hello."

"Hello my dear, my name is Aciano. I saw you passing by and I couldn't help but admire how beautiful you are."

"My name is Willow, I am honored to make your acquaintance."

"With you I finally feel at peace."

Although they seemed an unlikely pair, over the course of a month the two became utterly inseparable. Every day, Willow would go on a  walk through the woods to spend time with her Aciano. Often, they talked of their grandest dreams, their deepest desires. Aciano was an outlet for Willow to decipher her daily troubles and find a sense of hope.

"I can't help but agree, my love."

 Soon came the time that neither felt their lives could be complete without the other. With haste, they devised a plan to turn Aciano into a human so their love could prosper free from the isolation his plant life provided. 

"My most beautiful love, my dearest Willow, there is a Witch's cottage a few miles north from this meadow, if we wish to live together, you must travel to the Witch and beg her to perform a humanization spell on me. It is truly our only hope."

"Then I shall leave now and make haste!"

Only once Willow arrived at the footsteps of the Witch's cottage did she take an opportunity to catch her breath. The house looked as if it were falling apart at the seams. Covered in a dark fog, the windows were lined with many spidering cracks, and the roof looked to be sinking in at multiple points. 

Although nervous, with a burst of confidence Willow banged her fist against the splintering front door. In mere seconds, she was met with the wrinkled face of a witheringly old woman. Before being given a chance to speak, the Witch grabbed Willow's arm with twisted hands and dragged her through the doorway into her lair.

Immediately and with annoyance threaded through her voice, the Witch cut to the chase. Attempting not to lose the only opportunity she had to turn Aciano into a human, Willow choked down the fear bubbling in her throat.

"If you know why I am here then you must understand the importance that this visit atones."

"I know why you are here child, and I do not care for such atrociously boring requests." 

Remembering Aciano, and with intentions of gold, Willow made the Witch an offer that she could not refuse.

"I do not work for free. If you expected handouts then I suggest you run along."

"Then take from me what payment you must."

The corners of the Witch's mouth turn upwards in satisfaction, giving Willow a look that made her twitch to flee, for fear that she might have played directly into the old hag's hands. The Witch paced agonizingly slow around Willow, glancing over her from every angle imaginable.

Out of nowhere, she paused, her gnarled fingers rushing up to knot at the base of Willow's head. Caught off guard by the sudden movement of the Witch, Willow was stunned by her request.

"I would like you to give me your pretty hair." 

"How is he to recognize me if I do not have my golden hair?

Answering clipped, the Witch consolidated her, and after a moment of consideration Willow nodded her head in compliance, even bald, she knew Aciano would still love her.

"If your love is true, then he will know you no matter your appearance, love cares only for internal beauty."

With a snicker from the Witch, Willow's fair, beautiful hair fell from her scalp, littering a mess of bright strands across the aged floor. As soon as the excitement of Aciano's transformation began to show across her face, it was crushed by the Witch's following statement.

"Oh no my dear, you are not yet done. There is still more I wish in exchange."

"I would like you to give me your eyes." 

"How am I to see him if I no longer have my eyes?"