You can find me down the garden path…

                      *

I knew of a garden, where the flowers seemed to bloom all year round, where the vines existed, not as a burden to remove, but as a welcome guest, free to climb where it pleases.

I know of that garden because of an ex. I loved him dearly - I think I did atleast. But he wasn’t right for me, it was a feeling I had. He took me to that garden for the first time when I was 19. And we continued going once a week until I turned 22.

I still remember the way that the garden managed to take your worries and store them in a box, far away from you. Until you left that is.

They had a wishing well, me and Peter, when we had spare change would make a wish. He always said his wish aloud. I remember him looking at me, grinning as he said, ‘I wish to stay with you forever, I wish to have a family with you when we grow old.” I would smile outwardly, no matter how I felt inside.

Peter was always doing things like this. Always talking about our future together. In the end I just felt suffocated. He always wanted to do something. I never had my own time. So I broke up with him, and it immediately felt like a weight had been lifted. But he wasn’t happy with that. He tended to struggle with anger. He had a therapist, who was helping him work through it. He went ballistic, but I left his apartment before I could see the full extent of his anger.

That was 8 months ago, 8 months of no contact with Peter, I started dating and met a man who I think, given more time, I could really love. But last week Peter contacted me. He sent a message, I don’t know how he found my new number but he did. Hey Amy baby, I feel bad about how things ended, will you meet me at the garden? I want to sort things out, and maybe we can try again? Lots of love, Peter.

I felt as though if I didn’t go he would continue to contact me, and I needed to sort it out. So I met him at the wishing well. He was sitting on the edge, staring at the water like he always did. When he heard me he looked up and smiled, “I have a boyfriend, but even if I didn’t I wouldn’t get back together with you.” And just like that his smile shattered, breaking into a million pieces and cutting deep into his heart. “But we’re perfect for eachother,” oh my god, he sounded like a whiny toddler when he said this. “Not really, maybe if you went dating you’d find somebody better.” “Nobody. Is better than you. And I thought you would think the same about me, but I guess not.” At that point he scowled. “You were a nice guy, but you were so clingy, you never gave me my own time. I don’t care what you say I’m not getting back together with you.” I had pivoted sharply on my heel, so I didn’t have time to see him pick up the rock, I had just felt a bright pain on the back of my head. “What the fuck? That hurt!” I said turning back to see him stalk towards me with that faraway look he adopted every time his anger took over. I never realised how big a guy he was, he must be over six foot, and he went to the gym. Punch to my face, throws me to the ground. His foot hits the back of my head and stars danced across my vision. I couldn’t see clearly nor think clearly. I just felt him pick me up. He put my face in the wishing well water. Oh my god, all I wanted was to cut ties with him! I didn’t deserve this! I continued kicking out at him, but they started weakening as the oxygen in my lungs was replaced by water. At that point I stopped thinking. I was kept under the water for a few more moments. He must have dragged me away when he realised I was unresponsive.

Now I lie in a place where the flowers used to bloom all year round, until they withered away when my body was placed there. I lie in a place where the vines used to climb everywhere, until the started crawling away after my battered body was placed in the soil. I know of a place, where if you continue down the garden path, you can get a glimpse of a body.

I lie here now. And if you want, You can find me down the garden path…

This night is the darkest yet, which I suppose is saying something considering it's been only three nights. But boy has it felt longer than that.

This garden isn't like anything I've every seen before. Its expansive plots span miles, making it all too easy to get lost. And I have gotten lost. Just like the other poor souls who enter this secret garden.

Even though the moon is hidden on this night, the lack of light doesn't matter. It doesn't need to, the flowers glow on their own like millions of stars spread upon the earth. Bright pinks, purples, oranges, and yellows illuminate the twisting paths as I stumble through the overgrown foliage. Each bloom seems to hum with a soft, ethereal light, casting eerie shadows that dance along the edges of my vision. The air is thick with the scent of night-blooming flowers, sweet and heady, wrapping around me like a blanket.

I push my way through a thicket of thorns, their sharp points snagging at my clothes and skin. The garden seems to shift around me, the very earth under my feet moving as if alive. I hear whispers on the wind, soft and sibilant, urging me to turn back.

But I can't turn back. Not when I'm so close.

As I emerge from the thicket, I find myself in a clearing unlike any other. In the center stands a tree, its branches twisted and gnarled, leaves shimmering with a silvery light. At its base lies a pool of inky blackness, reflecting the dark sky above.

I approach the tree cautiously, my heart pounding in my chest. The whispers grow louder, more urgent, as if pleading with me to leave this place of magic and mystery. But I am drawn to the pool, its surface like a mirror reflecting back the twisted branches above.

As I kneel by the edge of the pool, I see movement in the depths below. Shadows shift and swirl, forming strange and ethereal shapes that seem to beckon me closer. Without thinking, I dip my hand into the water, expecting it to be cold and forbidding.

To my surprise, the water is warm, almost inviting. It clings to my skin like a caress, sending shivers down my spine. And then, as if in a dream, I see a face staring back at me from the depths.

It is a face unlike any other, with eyes that seem to hold the secrets of the universe within their depths. The figure in the water raises a hand towards me, and pulls me in.

Find me down the garden path Where green leaves grow true Blooming flowers and streaming sunlight Petals falling from a cherry too

They land in my hair And I don’t care at all As my hands touches leaves And I see the waterfall

The koi fish in a pond Adding to the peace And the most beautiful Of all the colorful trees

I look at the most amazing sight And take in a peaceful breath This place will be in my vivid memory Until the flowers rotting death

My hair blows in the wind And I take a sigh of sorrow That I must eventually leave Yet I will come back tomorrow

“Find me down the garden path….” Jonathan read.

He looked up, seeing the green, colorful garden. He started walking … and walking. Nothing could stop him from finding his true love.

He kept walking… and started running. The garden was an obstacle.

Then he saw a light blue dress, then saw long, braided brown hair; Then knew it was her.

She turned around, smiling. They ran up to each other and hugged. Tears running down their faces.

“I love you.” They both said.

Find me down the garden path and walk the same steps that I have.

Feel the warm rays that touched my sunkissed skin. Smell the sweet honeysuckle that soothed my aching lungs. Tune in to the melody of the chirping birds that caressed my idle ears. Graze your hands across the soft petals that stroked my fingertips, as light as feathers.

Feel your body buzzing with the life that flooded my senses.

As you reach the end of the path, slowly open the white gate. Under that wooden arch, you will feel me there, just as I was that blissful summer afternoon.

Find me down the garden path I’ll be waiting, my fingers tapping nervously against my thighs I’ll roll my shoulders back, hoping to loosen the tightness beneath the shoulder pads of this rental tux Find me down the garden path Standing next to my brother Risking a glance across the aisle to your best friend, wondering if she’ll have the same tell tale signs of oncoming tears in your her eyes Find me down the garden path Past rows of our closest friends and family Everyone we want here with us on this special day A day we’ve been building towards A future we always wanted together Find me down the garden path And let the rest of our lives begin

The flowers here are gorgeous, aren’t they? You know my father, his name is known here in this town. Famous for his mulch, his compost, his magical soil. Family secrets, they say. I know them all of course. Well, wouldn’t you like to know? No, no, I can’t give you a hint! Just admire what you’re seeing. Be grateful you’re here, through this archway. The trees here are hundreds of years old. They’re like my friends, talking to me during my boyhood years. That? No, that’s a branch not a bone, silly! Why would there be a bone in this foliage? Huh. This plot is my favorite. My father planted it himself, you know. I don’t hear anything, no. No, no screaming. Must be a distant dog or bird; we are by the ocean, you know. Go home? Why so soon? No, no, I have other plans for us. Find me down the garden path …

Find me down the garden path….

What will I find there?

A love that has always abandoned me?

The truth that always seems to trickle out of my grasp?

A whisper in my ear of a wonderful life before me?

Unless there is no one at the end of this garden path.

Unless life is devoid of love in it’s purest form.

Unless life is just a cloth stitched from lies.

Unless life is just waiting for me to fall into my grave.

Seeing the better picture is rather hard.

But I am curious.

I want to live better than I am now.

And if it is possible.

Then I shall achieve it and drink its blood until in has molded into my inner self.

Find me down the garden path….

(I am not feeling up to writing today; I have work to do in the evening as well, so this is probably all I’m gonna do today. Thanks for reading and have a good day.)

The girl stood at the end of the garden, staring at all the wondrous flowers and unique bushes that she’d never seen before.

She hummed herself a soft tune as she waited patiently, something in her mind almost knowing that someone would be showing up in her garden soon.

After a few moments she heard the sound of footsteps coming towards her and she turned to see her mother.

“Mama you’ve found me in my garden! Isn’t it so pretty?”

The girl said with a smile as she looked up at her mother. Her mother’s face spoke volumes, and yet, her most distinguished emotion was raw grief.

“Mama why are you sad? Do you not like my garden?”

Her mother kneeled down and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Oh my sweet baby I love your garden, but oh my baby I lost you too soon.”

Her mothers voice cracked as she held onto her daughter tightly. Her daughter didn’t understand, she’d been in this garden for as long as she could remember…

No my love, don’t say there’s so many paths, It’s just one path, that path is me. My love seek the signs of nature, wander through the grass. Take the most beautiful flower from the ground, And hand it over to your Queen. Yes there will be dragons, yes there will be trouble, but my love, follow your heart. just like the smells of an aroma. look to your right, look towards your left, find me with the knowledge of faith. ok yes, pray trust wait. My love, just don’t wait in vain. i’ll love to see you try. following each and every sign. do you see that end in front? that might be it. but first look around you and explore. learn through your journey, fall and get up, run my love, run! just do it warmly like the sun. as you reach your destination, you’ll see its just the begining. i’ll take a step back each time you take one more, i’ll smile and say, “catch me”, you’ll fight for me ,smile and say, “ “I can wait 20 years here until you take a step forward.” i’ll run to your arms and whisper, “my love, our destination is on the right!” we’ll explore, fall and get back up, until our souls become one.