One midnight, Gwen couldn't sleep. She kept turning from side to side, forcing her eyes to close. Eventually, she got up and slowly walked toward the curtain that was swaying because her window was open.
She frowned in confusion. She clearly remembered closing it before going to bed.
"Why is this open?" she wondered.
As she looked outside, she saw a tree in the distance, surrounded by a garden. The flowers glowed beautifully under the bright moonlight. She found herself staring at it, as if the massive tree was calling out to her.
Slowly, she went downstairs and stepped outside the house.
She walked carefully toward the garden. When she reached it, she entered and saw countless glowing flowers in different colors and kinds. But as she moved deeper inside, instead of just a tree, she found herself in a breathtaking place she had never seen in her entire life.
There were glowing butterflies, vibrant flowers, and a crystal-clear stream filled with lively fish. Around her were plants bearing all kinds of fruits and vegetables. Ahead was an archway decorated with leaves and flowers, as if a grand celebration was taking place inside.
"Wow.. this is so beautiful! I've never seen anything like this before," she whispered to herself.
She entered the archway and discovered a kingdom inside. Tables were filled with food, and chairs were neatly arranged. The walls and floors were made of marble and diamonds.
"Wow! the food looks so delicious and healthy. It feels like it would be amazing to live here."
As she walked further, she saw a group of people talking. They were dressed elegantly. She quickly decided to hide under a table.
She couldn't understand what they were saying, but she remained hidden beneath the tables.
"I wish my family could live here Mom, Dad, and my siblings. We would never struggle again," she murmured.
Thinking of her family, she suddenly felt the need to go back home. They might already be looking for her. But she didn't know how to return.
Slowly, she crawled toward a large doorway leading outside. Once she got out, she ran as fast as she could, not knowing where the exit was or how to return to the garden she had entered.
"Oh no! where am I!? How do I get back? I think I'm lost," she said, almost in tears.
She suddenly remembered what the elders used to say that when you're lost, you should turn your clothes inside out to find your way back. She did it, then ran again through dense trees and plants filled with different fruits.
She picked some bright red wax apples and carried them while running, until she finally reached the exit leading back to the garden with the giant tree.
Exhausted, she tripped on the concrete ground, realizing she had finally made it back.
"Thank goodness… I'm finally home!" Gwen said as she ran back to the house, nearly stumbling.
When she returned, her parents and siblings were still asleep. She went straight to her room, placed the fruits on her small table, and immediately fell asleep from exhaustion.
"Knock! Knock! Knock!"
She woke up from her brother Angelo's loud knocking. She shouted for him to stop, got up, and opened the door. It was already 6 AM.
Then she suddenly remembered the fruits she had brought home the night before.
"Huh?!"
She gasped in shock. Hearing her scream, Angelo quickly came back upstairs and entered her room.
"What happened, Sis? I've been trying to wake you up," Angelo said.
"Where is the… the–"
"Where is what?"
"The fruits I placed on this table?"
"What fruits? There's nothing here. And I just got into your room now."
"That's not possible!"
"What are you talking about, Sis!? I don't understand you."
The wax apples she had brought had turned into scattered leaves.
"Why are there so many leaves on your table? Where did those come from? Do you have homework that involves collecting leaves?" Angelo asked, confused.
"Ah… n-no. I just needed leaves, so I picked some from the plants downstairs last night," Gwen quickly explained.
"Oh, okay. Come on, Sis. Mom is waiting for us downstairs for breakfast."
"Alright, I'll follow."
After Angelo left, Gwen stood frozen, staring at the leaves. She couldn't believe that the fruits she had brought home had turned into them overnight.
She walked to the window and looked again at the giant tree in the distance, surrounded by a garden as if someone, or something, was guarding it.
To be continued..
– She thought would never find her way home after getting lost.
"The roses were only the beginning… she was never just chosen by accident."
To be continued...
- Stay tuned for the next mysterious events in the Red Roses and the Mysterious Letter series! Book series 2 is coming soon! :) anyway can u leave a comment if you already hook in this short series :)