The Fable of the Flower Witch🔊

In the small, rugged coastal town of Rock Point, she was known simply as 'The Flower Witch.' But to those who knew her well, she was Mila. And her story, like that of most true heroes, begins with tragedy.

When Mila was just five, a rogue wave crashed into their cottage, sweeping away her parents into the cold, unforgiving sea. It was a sorrowful beginning, but the townsfolk took her in, raised her, taught her the trades of the sea and forest, and respectfully gave her space for the brooding solitude that seemed her only true friend.

One balmy summer afternoon, as Mila wandered the beach looking for seashells, she discovered a peculiar bloom burgeoning amidst the rocky outcrop. Its petals shimmered in hues she had never seen before. It radiated warmth that reminded her of her mother's presence. Moved, she took the flower home and began her life's work.

Through trial and error, she learned to manipulate seeds and soil, sunlight and shade, until her cottage was surrounded by a riot of blossoms that matched her desire for joy, her commitment to resilience, her singular, heartfelt yearning for love. People nicknamed her 'The Flower Witch,' whispering legends about children healed, or travelers guided safely through the treacherous forest by following the magical blossoms that only sprung forth from her ardent touch.

Then, the sickness crept in. A traveler brought with him, unwittingly, a pestilence that the villagers had no defense against. Desperate, they turned to the Mayor, a grouchy old sailor named Ernest, who decided to seek Mila's help. With his characteristic gruffness, he told her, 'Flower Witch, your magics might be our only chance.' Mila nodded, a spark of steely determination lighting her deep brown eyes.

Experimenting with various flower essences, Mila finally created a rare elixir. She used a flower that only bloomed during the twilight—its luminescent and transient beauty akin to the flickering hopes of those suffering. Despite their existing animosity for her craft, the villagers, driven by desperation, accepted her strange remedy. And miraculously, it worked.

The sickness started to ebb. Children started laughing again. The worn-out faces of the elders regained some of their grace, and Rock Point was once again teeming with health and life. The villagers celebrated and thanked Mila, their gratitude warming her heart and the darkness of her loss seemed a bit easier to bear.

But then, just when she thought a semblance of normalcy would return, tragedy struck again. Ernest, who had fought bravely against the sickness, finally succumbed. Mila fell into a sorrow deeper than the coastal trenches. He had been her hurdles as well as her bulwark. His death was a blow that made her question the worth of her magic.

So, she did the only thing that made sense — she planted. She planted for Ernest, for her parents, and for herself. She planted until her hands bled and her tears dried up. And in the morning, a flower of unparalleled beauty had sprung from the barren land - 'Ernest's Grace,' she named it.

Despite the tragedy, Mila's resolve to generate life around her never waned. Rock Point, the rugged coastal town, flourished with her magical touch. She was the town's healer, its ray of sunshine, its beating heart, its Flower Witch.