The Forgotten Garden🔊

Once upon a time, nestled on the edge of a quaint little town known as Edgemont, there was an enchanting, yet forgotten, garden. Overgrown with moss and wild flowers, the garden held a mysterious allure for the village children, who often dared each other to venture into its depth and retrieve souvenirs. Yet, deep within, an old lady named Agatha lived, infamous for being a witch. The town folk called her 'Old Hag Agatha'.

Agatha lived a lonely life, shrouded in tales of her magical abilities that people feared. Vines crept along Agatha's home, and overgrown trudged pathways zigzagged across the garden. She spent her days tending to her plants, speaking to them tenderly as if they were her children. At night, under the obscure moon, she brewed peculiar concoctions with flowers from her garden.

One sunny afternoon, a young orphan, named Cal, dared to cross the garden threshold. Intrigued more than feared by Agatha, Cal was the bravest amongst all the children in Edgemont. As soon as he stepped foot in the garden, he was mesmerized.

Agatha's garden was a splendour of colours and fragrances he couldn't have imagined. Seeing Agatha for the first time, he was struck by her peaceful demeanor, contradicting the stories he had heard. Sensing his presence, Agatha called him over with a gentle smile.

'Why are you not afraid, child?' she asked. Cal met her gaze, shrugged and said 'I do not fear what I do not understand, ma'am. And I wanted to see if the tales were true'. Chuckling, Agatha invited him to sit and offered him a cup of her homemade brew. Instantaneously Cal felt a warmth spread through his body, easing his earlier nervousness and replacing it with tranquillity.

From that day on, Cal visited Agatha every day. She showed him her magical plants and taught him how to brew potions. As time passed, Cal's loneliness faded, and in Agatha, he found a grandmother he never had.

One day, Cal ventured to the part of the town he avoided, the orphanage, with a vial of potion. He offered it to the ill, unattended children. Miraculously, their health improved. The word spread about the miracle cure, and soon Cal was bombarded with requests. Meanwhile, the villagers were surprised to learn that Agatha was behind the magical potion. Their fear turned into respect.

Realizing her failing health, Agatha shared all her magical knowledge with Cal. When she finally passed away, Cal continued to tend to the garden. The once-like-an-overgrown-jungle garden became the beating heart of Edgemont, bringing prosperity to the town.

'Old Hag Agatha' became 'Wise Woman Agatha,' thanks to her protege Cal. The once-dreaded garden, became a place of healing, and Cal, the lonely orphan, became the most respected figure in Edgemont. The garden was never forgotten again but grew under Cal's care, as did Agatha's legacy.