The river was quiet,as if it carried the secrets of a thousand untold stories Mary sat alone on it's edge her eyes lost in golden reflection of the setting sun the sky burned in shades of oranges and red,slowly fading into dusk-just like the year of her life
She sighed
There was something heavy in her heart something unfinished.
Rose."mom...what are you doing here alone?
A soft voice broke the silence Mary turned her head and saw her daughter,Rose,walking towards her.Rose gently sat beside her,her eyes full of warmth and curiosity
Mary smiled faintly,but it didn't reach her eyes"I was just thinking....
She said quietly."At this age... I often Wonder.....what if there had been a little magic in my life. Rose looked at her,confused magic.
Mery nodded slowly.what if -I had gotten what I truly wanted,Do you think I would still be sitting here....feeling this empty,The river flowed on,as if listening Mary voice grew softer.In life,we get many things success responsibilities,moments but if we don't receive true love-the kind your heart longs for-it feels like something is always missing.
She paused!
And even when we die that emptiness doesn't disappear Rose felt a strange heaviness in her chest she had never seen her mother like this before just across the river stood a small charming cafe
SUNFLOWER CAFE.
It was known for its peaceful view and for the mysterious sunflower garden behind it.
People whispered stories about that garden.
They said...every new year's night,something magical happened there
A miracle,A Chance.
A wish...that could come true.
Even the impossible one sunflower people believed were not just ordinary flowers the symbolized hidden emotions,silent hopes and dream waiting to bloom Mary owned that cafe .It wasn't just a work place it was her quiet escape year ago in her twenties Mary had fallen in love but she never confessed because her own sister loved the same man he was successful charming....everything one could admire and the end he married my sister Mary never spoke a word about her feelings she buried them like a secret that was never meant to br told later,she married a name john.
But that marriage was never real.It felt like a relationship built only for appearances and one day.he left
Just like that Mary alone,with her little daughter Rose.Rose is a very bright,kind,and live a life full of joy.A fine Art student,with dream as colorful as her a paintings.
She believed in happiness ahe believed in magic.Magic gives happiness she often said.
Mary would smile at that because she knew the truth magic,Mary once told her always asks for something in return.
That night the cafe was unusually busy.it was new year's eve customer filled the place with laughter,noise and celebration.Mary and Rose worked together serving cleaning smiling hiding their own stories behind polite faces.As the night grew deeper the crowd slowly disappeared the cafe become quiet again go home,mom rose said gently.I finish the rest Mary nodded and left.
Rose stayed behind,cleaning the last table closing the cafe.finaly,when everything was done.
She stepped outside the night air felt different still.
Almost-calling her.A strange glow soft-yet powerful something was shining deep within the garden.her heart started beating faster.she remembered the stories the sunflower appears only on new year's night.A miracle,A wish.
Curiosity pulled her forward slowly-carefully Mary stepped inside the garden.
All the sunflower were yellow.excepton,A single sunflower glowing in deepred brighter than anything she had ever seen,it didn't fell like a flower it felt live.
Calling her,without realizing,Mary reached out her hand and touched it in that instant.A burst of white light surrounded.A soft, haunting melody echoed through the air.
As if time it self had paused and then-everything went silent.
To be continued