Rose of Secrets

    by Mariadelmar

    (Dedicated to and translated by Death2Eliza)

    Τhe young girl was following her every day route, following the same road. It was a habit that she never gave up and didn’t want to change. Lately the weather was rainy and moody. Though it wasn’t so cold she felt a slight chill as she was walking silently in the empty and deserted street. She held her cape closer around her body and she felt better immediately. Spring time would come soon and she was certain the sun would shine warm again. In a while she would reach her destination but today also, she would make a short stop, for a few minutes, only to watch him from afar like she did every day.

    She fetched outside the big railed gate and hid behind the trees so he wouldn’t be able to see her. She stood there, still, for a while. Right after that, she pushed away the leaves using her hands and started searching with her eyes. She saw him in the back, holding a white rose in his hands.

    That boy was there every day, repeating the same moves. She was observing him daily while she was passing by on her way to work. The procedure was always the same. She was hiding for a while and watched him as he was gardening his roses. The garden was huge and must had, at least, ten different species of those flowers. The young man was showing a special devoutness and love towards them and was planting them on the ground pushing them gently with his hands. Then, he was watering them slowly, cropping those he had planted formerly and cleared the area, removing the wild grass and the unwanted visitors.

    She wasn’t aware of what was so appealing to her to make her stand there every morning only to see those moves of his. It was like she had a rendezvous with him, only to experience that special, secret interaction. That day she saw him planting that white rose he was holding. She was certain that, by the spring coming, it would blossom, bloom and would give more beauty to the garden.

    In her effort to watch even clearer between the leaves, she stumbled and accidentally stepped on a branch that was right behind her. The clatter scattered tensely the morning’s silence. She left almost running, afraid that he would find her and went on running until she reached the end of the street At once she took the turn into the narrow alley. She cut way through the small path that crossed the woods and later she found herself in the central town street.


    She was trying to catch her breath and was still shaken up when she arrived outside the store’s entrance. Mrs Simmons did notice her anxiety immediately and expressed her curiosity.

    -“Candy! What is happening to you and you look like this? No matter how fast you were running on your way here, you still managed to be late,” she scolded her.

    -“My most sincere apologies Mrs Simmons.”

    Candy ran inside to join to the laboratory with the other girls. They were all sitting in front of their machinery and were making, one by one, little souvenir statuettes, meant to be sold in the store. That job might look easy, but the truth was that it was demanding as far as concentration and skills were concerned. She was working with the clay much better than all the other workers there. That was the reason why she was working at that production line. There were other girls that were involved only with the colouring part, they had their fingers covered with paint by the end of the day. Candy was returning home covered with mud, but she couldn’t care less. She loved her occupation even though it was very tiring and monotonous to make the same pattern over and over again.

    Many times she felt the desire to create something different, but that was impossible. The store’s designs were very specific. The couple of the young shepherd and his beloved one, a boy that was offering an apple to a young girl, a fairy covered in flowers and other traditional local scenes.  Her tiny hands were touching the clay and were transforming it, from a shapeless maze, to a delicate figurine. Those statuettes were most popular in the whole town. Every newcomer or visitor would definitely drop by Mrss Simmons shop for a memento souvenir. When Candy reached her sixteen, she was sent there from the orphanage in order to be taught an art and earn enough money to cover her needs. She was grateful to Mrs Pony and Sister Mary for taking care of that.

    The hours were passing by in a torturing slow pace and Candy felt like her right elbow was sometimes aching out of exhaustion. Their break time was only once a day, so short that they only had time to eat a single slice of bread, and then all the workers had to rush to their seats.
    She took the way back slowly. She felt her heart pounding as she was walking right outside the locked railed gate. She threw a quick glance but he was nowhere to be seen. The roses stood all alone in the garden, declaring his presence all around the place. A light was fading away from the back of the house and there was no way to define a human silhouette in there. So she continued her march to the small room that was given to her temporary by the church. Sooner or later she would leave that place. Mrs Pony had sent her a letter recently, informing her that someone that was interesting in marrying her, had came along.

    Candy was an orphan girl who didn’t have many choices in life. She was always obedient and loyal to what the nuns, who had raised her, were telling her. They had sent her there to be taught independence and to become a completed person. She held the money she was gaining in a small iron box underneath her bed. Dinner was on the church so she didn’t have almost any expenses. When she would return to the orphanage she would give Mrs Pony all of it, all the money she had managed to keep so far, in order to help raising the other orphans whom she considered as brothers and sisters of hers.

    Even so, she had agreed to an upcoming marriage with someone, a good man, who would be able to cover her basic needs. And now she felt very glad with the news that was included in Mrs Pony’s letter. She really enjoyed working, but Mrs Simmons was very strict and sometimes cruel and bad tempered towards her workers. Most of them were poor girls that had to work there to be able to support their families. Freedom of expression was unthinkable. What they were making was only for the cause of marketing and for Mrs Simmons to gain more and more money.

    It was already very late when she entered her room. She removed the dress she was wearing and put on another clean one. Right after doing so, she rushed into the church hall were the dinner was served. She sat again with Mrs Whitman, who was homeless, and kept her company. Every night she was reading to her a book, usually a romance story.

    Later she returned to her room and lit up a candle to brighten up the area. She putted on her long white nightgown and after she said her prayer, lay on her bed. She pulled the covers up to her neck and closed her eyes. The vision of a young blond boy with blond hair and blue eyes was grating in her mind. What calmed her down, was the thought of the next morning when she would be seeing him again.

    *******************

    Every morning was the same, every day the story repeated itself. Candy’s only expectation in life was every single upcoming dawn, when she knew that she would be seeing him again. He was there, every day, every morning and waited for her, without being aware of it. Her job was always tiresome, but Candy didn’t mind. She was slipping her hands softly upon the wet clay and went on creating in an unstoppable pace. One image had entered her mind; it was his vision, holding in his hands in a unique way, one single rose. Her wish was to create something like that; it was a thought that was uplifting her senses. She was certain that if she would try, she would succeed in making his figure along with his beloved rose.

    That was an absolute insane idea and Mrs. Simmons definitely wouldn’t allow her to do such a thing. But what if she would ask for permission to work on it during her lunch break? Maybe that wouldn’t be troublesome since she wouldn’t waste time from her working hours.
    In the afternoon, by the time they had finished their shift, she stood aside and waited impatiently to ask her.

    -“Why are you standing here looking at me like that?” asked Mrs Simmons.

    -“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you for a big favour,” said Candy.

    -“What do you want? A vacation? I hope you’re not sick and spread any contagious disease among us.”

    -“No, I’m not sick,” replied Candy.

    -“Then what is that you what?”

    -“Could I, tomorrow, during my lunch break, create a statuette on my own?”

    -“Yours?”

    -“Yes. I mean, my own design, irrelevant to our usual patterns.”

    -“What is this that you want to make?” she asked.

    -“A boy with a rose!” she said, and Mrs Simmons burst into laughter.

    -“Nobody will want to buy such a pattern” she retorted.

    -“But I don’t want to make it in order to sell it. I want to create it for myself.”

    Mrs Simmons was staring at her, Candy felt confused about the meaning of that gaze.

    -“So you want to make a statuette and keep it for your own.”

    -“Yes madam,” said Candy.

    -“And who is going to colour it for you?”

    -“I’ll ask one of the girls to do it, as a favour to me, during her lunch break also. I think Dorothy will accept if I ask her to do so.”

    -“Alright then. I’m giving you the permission to create it. But there is something else too…”

    Candy’s heart was fluttering full of joy but Mrs Simmons hadn’t finish her sentence yet.

    -“What else is there?” Candy asked.

    -“You’ll have to pay for the material’s expenses. The clay you’ll use and the colours as well. These things cost money you know.”

    That was unbelievable. She was asking money for a single tiny statuette. Candy was working for her two whole years and she had never asked for anything. And either way, the salary was so low on its own.

    -“How much?” asked Candy.

    -“I will able to tell when I see it completed. I can not calculate in advance.”

    -“Fine.” Candy replied. “I’ll pay you for the cost of the materials,” She murmured facing down.

    “That’s good. Is there something else you want now?” she asked.

    -“No, thank you very much.”

    -“If that’s so, go on, move it, it’s getting quite dark. If something happens to you, we’ll be in lots of trouble,” said in a demanding way while shaking her finger back and forth in front of Candy’s face.

    That night, while sitting back on her bed, she thought that she didn’t mind giving away money for her little statue. The only thing that mattered was the fact that she could finally make something of her own inspiration and that it would belong to her. In the future, when she would leave that place she could take it along with her.

    ****************

    Break time had already started. All the girls had gone outside to take a breath of fresh air, and only Candy stayed behind, in her machinery, preparing a brand new piece of clay. She mixed the mud and poured some extra water in the hole she had made the middle. Her delicate fingers were embracing that maze, like this was a part of a spiritual ceremony. She moved her feet while in the same time she was giving shape to her small treasure carefully. A few minutes later, the basic pattern was ready. With a small piece of wood she went on detailing the hair, the eyes and the silhouette. The hardest part was to construct the tiny rose. She made the petals slowly, one by one, and placed them together, adding right under above, the small curlicue that he was holding in his hand.

    Her special creation was complete. What was left, was to place it with the others statuettes that were about to be put in the oven. She had already spoken to Dorothy about it and the next day she would paint it with Candy’s colour preferences. By the afternoon when she had finished working, she felt very happy and fulfilled. She rapped the little statue gently in a piece of newspaper and carried it at home, she wanted to gaze at it just the way it was, even colourless. By night, when she slipped into her bed, she placed it near by; to her bedside. She couldn’t wait for the time when it would be completely finished.

    ****************

    She and Dorothy had stayed inside during their break only to finish working on Candy’s statuette. Dorothy had accepted doing so, in exchange for a bar of chocolate and a bag of caramels that Candy was saving from the past Christmas she had spent on the orphanage.
    Candy watched her mixing her paints and preparing to apply the colour base. Dorothy was, without a doubt, the best in colouring and that was the reason why Candy had chosen her.

    -“What colour would you prefer for his clothing?” Dorothy asked her.

    Candy brought his image back in her mind. Usually he was wearing dark-black trousers and on top a blue shirt. She gave Dorothy the instructions, and the young girl got on it immediately. Candy was observing while she was forming his expression in perfection. Gold hair and blue eyes. And for the end, the rose was white, pure and beautiful. She was feeling overwhelmed by her creation; it was exactly what she wanted it to be. She gave it some time to dry properly and later she put it in a box and made preparations to carry it safely when she would be leaving. When they were about to exit the laboratory, Mrs. Simmons suddenly blocked her way out.

    -“Wait a minute. I want to see what you’ve made,” she said.

    -“Yes madam,” Candy replied and opened her package.

    Mrs. Simmons took the little statue in her hands. She raised it high and examined it closely.

    -“Hmm,” she murmured. “This statue is much better than I ever expected. I don’t think that you’ll be able to take it after all.”

    -“What do you mean? It’s mine. You gave me permission to create it and I’ll pay you for the cost.”

    -“That won’t be enough I’m afraid. If I have this on the shop’s window I’m sure it will be sold in a very high price. You’ll have to give me as much money a good buyer would give.”

    -“But Mrs. Simmons…” Candy was about to burst into tears.

    -“I’ll keep it here. If you want it you have to pay what is worth,” she snarled.

    Candy though about it. She was almost asking for all of her savings. But those were meant to be given to the orphanage. She just couldn’t give it for the statue that she had created herself. She rushed outside and started running down the street full of anger and pain while tears were pouring hot down her cheeks. She followed her usual path to cut way. Suddenly, a sound was heard and scared her. Maybe it was some kind of bird or an animal. Then it appealed to her like somebody was following her and that thought made her start to feel panic. She sped up her pace even more; she was sweating, and started to feel really afraid. While running she didn’t notice a big branch that had fallen on the ground, stumbled on it, fell down and hit her head hard. The last thing she faced was the figure of a limper, blond boy that was staring at her in agony.

    ******************

    Candy woke up after quite some time not being aware of the place she was. She found herself lying on a huge, soft bed with bedposts around it. She observed the surrounding area and couldn’t help noticing that that the room was decorated in a very delicate taste and expensive furniture. She tried to say something but she couldn’t get her voice. There was great pain coming from her head; she moved her hand there and touched it and that was when she realised that it was wrapped with a piece of cloth.

    The door opened and a middle aged man made his appearance, it didn’t took her long to realize that he was actually a doctor. He looked straight in her eyes and immediately started to examine her. He checked her head and focused on her wound. Candy let a slight scream as she felt a sharp and tensed pain while he touched there with his fingers. He actually didn’t seem to pay any attention to her reaction.

    -“You’ll get well,” he said simply and left the room.

    She decided that it was about time to get up and return to her room but every time she tried to, she felt an unbearable dizziness. She fell back on the bed once more, breathless.

    Someone was knocking on the door. She didn’t reply; she was so scared that she was trembling. Where was she? Who owned this place? As she was not responding to the knock, the door opened and before her now stood the boy with the roses.

    She rubbed her eyes for a moment, fearing that she might be dreaming, but when she reopened them he was still there gazing at her.

    -“Hello,” he said.

    -“Hello,” replied Candy.

    -“You gave me quite a scare back there. I hope you feel a little bit better by now. The doctor said that you’ll be alright.”

    -“Thank you for everything, but I have to go now,” she flattered.

    -“I don’t think that you’re in position for departing. I won’t allow you do so. Something even worse might happen to you.”

    Was that his house? Had he carried her all the way through the railed gate? Did he crossed his whole garden and brought her here? She couldn’t find the courage to ask.

    -“What is your name?” he asked.

    -“My name is Candy. What’s yours?”

    -“I’m Anthony Brown.” he said. “Where do you live? What’s your family name?”

    Candy didn’t feel brave enough to answer to all these questions. She was very embarrassed. She lied.

    -“I’m not living here. My family is in New Orleans. I just came here to visit an aunt.”

    -“Who is she? Maybe my grandmother knows her.”

    -“I don’t think so. She just moved here herself.”

    He didn’t seem pleased with her answers, but he didn’t insist.

    -“I’ll go and order the kitchen to have some soup ready for you.” he said and left the room.

    She was feeling awful. How did she ever manage to mess things up so badly? She had to leave this place before it was too late, before somehow, he would be informed that she was observing him secretly every morning while he was taking care of his roses. Was there a specific reason for him to cherish roses so passionately? She would love to hear all about it.

    She tried once more and managed to get off the bed. She wore her shoes and on top of the chair she saw her cape, placed it around her shoulders in a hurry and shyly open the door. Nobody seemed to be there. Which way was the exit? She moved to the right side of the hallway, praying to have taken the right direction. She reached a stairway that led to a huge living room or what seemed to be more of a reception hall. If she had calculated right, as soon as she would reach the central point of that area, the door before her would be the main exit. She climbed down the stairs in a hurry, checking for not to be seen by anyone. She went for the door, opened it and suddenly found herself in front of the beautiful garden. The scent rising up from the roses was making her feel a delightful dizziness. She wanted to stand there for a while to admire them, but there was no time for that; she had to leave before she caught someone’s attention. She went for the gate and for her good fortune, found it unlocked, opened it carefully and ran to the woods. Walking fast, she ended up to her usual path and later the road that led to the church. She entered it and started looking immediately for Father Quinn.

    He went pale as soon as he laid his eyes on her.

    -“For God’s sake! What happened to you Candy?”

    -“I had a minor accident. A good man picked me up me and took care of me,” she explained.

    -“You gave me quite a scare there my child. Maybe we should call the doctor to check your trauma.”

    -“That won’t be necessary,” said Candy. “I’ve been already checked by the doctor and he said that I’m fine.”

    -“Alright then. At least let’s step inside so you can have something to eat.”

    -“Thank you Father,” said Candy and kissed his hand in devotion.

    Later that night, Candy decided that she would give all her savings to Mrs. Simmons in exchange for her statuette. She wouldn’t allow anyone to get her precious treasure.
    *****************

    The next morning, after she dressed up well and took care of her wound, she pull out from below her bed the iron box where she kept her savings. She opened it and counted the money inside it. She was certain that it the amount was enough. She really hoped that Mrs. Simmons wouldn’t overcome her usual greedy self.

    She put the money inside a reticule she owned, passed it over around her neck and above all, wore her cape. She went out on the street and followed her usual route. When she reached his house she went and stood behind the trees, as always. He was there taking care of his roses again. For a moment, Candy felt tempted to go and talk to him. But she regretted the thought almost right away. Every time she stood there, staring at him, she had that special emotion and felt her heart bounding in a frenzy.

    Time was passing by and she would be late for work. She didn’t want to hackle Mrs Simmons, especially now that she needed to have her statue back. She marched in a hurry and a few minutes later arrived at the laboratory but before she got to start working, she hurried to meet Mrs Simmons.

    -“I want my statuette,” she said in a determinate voice with burning eyes.

    She removed her reticule from around her neck and placed it upon the bench. Mrs Simmons opened it and started to carefully count the money. After she was through with it she looked at her with a glance of satisfaction in her eyes.

    -“Alright. I’ll give it to you,” she said while putting the money back on the reticule and hid it in her bosom. Candy turned to move for the laboratory but Mrs Simmons stopped her.

    -“Wait,” she ordered. “From today on, you’re going to make more of these, the same pattern. We are planning to start a new production line with these.”

    -“No,” Candy sounded very determined. “I cannot make another one like this. I simply cannot.”

    -“Why can’t you? Of course you can.”

    -“No!” Candy yelled.

    -“You are obliged to do as I say. Otherwise you’re going back to where you came from.”

    -“It will be better off me if I am to return to the orphanage,” Candy replied rudely.

    -“How dare you talk back to me?” Candy couldn’t take any more of this. She didn’t reply, just ran fast, grabbed the statuette box and rushed out of the store. Mrs Simmons followed her down the street and started screaming.

    -“Come back, you foolish girl. Come back here at once!”

    But Candy wasn’t listening. She had shut her ears, held her precious possession tightly in her arms and was walking away as fast as she could.

    She was very ashamed. What would she say to Father Quinn? To Mrs Pony and Sister Mary? The truth was that she actually didn’t care. She would return to the orphanage. Either way, sooner or later, she would get married and that would be the end of all.

    She entered her room and locked herself inside. With trembling hands, she opened the box and admired her unique special creation. She wanted to keep it hers forever, to be able to have it in her sights every single morning and keep the memory of the boy that was planting those roses with such affection.

    She was so distracted that didn’t notice at first that someone was knocking on her door. Who knew that she was there at this time of the day? She placed the statuette back to its box and rushed to open the door. It was Sally, the girl next door that was working in a mill factory, and she was holding a letter addressed to Candy.

    -“This arrived for you yesterday but I didn’t see you then. Father Quinn informed me that you were injured yesterday and that you were taking the day off work.”

    -“Yes,” Candy answered.

    -“I’m sick too,” the girl said.

    Candy took the letter, shut the door and looked closely for the name of the sender. That filled her up with unexpected joy, it was from Mrs Pony. She climbed to her bed and opened the envelope in great anticipation.

    “Our beloved Candy,

    We are all doing well here in the orphanage and I have to admit that we’ve all missed you very much. The lemon tree is starting to bloom in our garden and the only thing that’s missing is your smiling face of yours while climbing on it. I’m not sad because I know that I’ll get to meet you soon. You see, I’m writing to you to inform you that finally, a fine man came along with a good profession, who wishes to be married to a girl like you. Sister Mary showed him one picture of you and he was delighted. It’s about Mr Joshua Smith, he’s 37 years old and he works as a doctor. You and him, together, will share a easygoing and good life my child. Everything is arranged so you have to notify Mrs Simmons that you won’t be able to offer your services to her anymore. So start packing as soon as possible and head back to our orphanage. It won’t be long after your arrival that you’ll have the chance to meet your future husband. We have already arranged for your marriage to take place at the last Sunday of March. I’m very sure that you are thrilled with the news. Know that all the children are sending their love and the are waiting for you.

    You have all our love.
    Mrs Pony and Sister Mary.”

    As soon as she read it, Candy felt overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

    How strange life can be sometimes… That letter came exactly the minute she needed it most. She had already quit her job and there was no reason to inform Mrs. Simmons about anything. It was done, though in a much different way than the one Mrs Pony was suggesting.
    They had already agreed to her marriage with a stranger. It’s been such a long time since she had compromise with the idea, and had convinced herself that all this was for her own good. But now the time had finally come and he felt that she was dragging an unbearable weight.

    So far she didn’t had the chance to even see the man how she was supposed to be married to. A doctor, according to the letter. But ..37 years old? That was a whole nineteen years difference between them… At least was he, in a way, presentable? Would she manage to have feelings for him in the future? Something similar like what she felt about Anthony, the boy with the roses? She regretted making these thoughts. Mrs Pony, who was like a mother to her, knew best what was to be done for her own good.

    “You’ll be able to share an easygoing and good life my child.”

    That’s what she wrote and Candy took these words into serious consideration. Her childhood years at the orphanage were tough ones. She had never met her real parents. They had abandoned her when she was only a few days old. She had everything she needed; there was always there a plate with food on the table for her and some comfort. The nuns were teaching them reading and writing, good manners and were always preaching to the children God’s sayings. All these were considered enough to raise them up to be nice people, but the truth was that the beloved nuns were always counting on a good marriage for their girls.

    While lost in her thoughts, she decided that she had to start packing and return to the orphanage. She was to fulfil her predestined future.
    She reopened the box and took out her little statuette. She gazed at it and that brought tears into her eyes. Maybe keeping it for her wasn’t the right thing to do. Maybe she owed to pass it over to him.

    What if she went to see him for the last time? She could give him the statuette and farewell him forever. There was only one question she needed to ask him. The reason that made him so font of those roses. She couldn’t afford to waste more time. She would visit him afternoon and tell him the truth thanking him for taking care of her the night before. She would give him her creation as a present and then she would take the way back to the orphanage.

    ****************

    She had puton her best dress, took care of her wound and brushed her hair until they shined. She raised her pigtails high with her bands and then wrapped the package with a silver paper she had kept from a Christmas present given to her. She was ready to go and started walking feeling happy and satisfied. It didn’t took her long before she found herself right outside the railed gate. That house, most of the times appeared to be deserted and dark. She never understood why, a boy with his looks, appeared to be so apart from the rest of the world.

    She pushed the gate open and headed for the front door, the same one that she had walked by the night before, and knocked full of confidence. A young girl that seemed to be a maid answered.

    -“Yes please? What can I do for you miss?” she asked politely.

    -“I’d like to see Anthony,” Said Candy shyly.

    She was almost interrupted by the presence an old woman that appeared to the door. She looked very strict and she gave Candy a frozen glance. The woman outfit seemed to be delicate and expensive. A gold necklace was hanging from her neck and she had her hair caught in an aristocratic bun.

    -“Who are you and what business do you have with Anthony?” she asked.

    -“Pardon me,” Candy stammered. “You know, I only wanted to see him for a minute.”

    -“He’s not here,” the woman retorted, and waved to the servant to move away. “Get in, I would like to have a word with you,” she added.

    Candy assumed that she was fooled by her first impression of the lady and that she didn’t seem so be so strict after all. At least she was polite enough to invite her in. She entered and the woman pointed towards an armchair in the huge living room. Candy sat holding tight her box, hoping that soon she would be seeing Anthony and give him her present.

    -“You are the one he helped last night, aren’t you?” the woman asked.

    -“Yes madam,” Candy replied.

    -“The one that ran away like a thief in the middle of the night,” the lady added.

    -“I’m sorry, you know…”

    The woman interrupted her sounding really imposing.

    -“I really don’t appreciate your act. But I can understand the reason to it, and it makes total sense to me. You see, I’ve gathered information about you.”

    -“Information? What kind of information?”

    -“I know all about you. That you’re an orphan and that you were working at Mrs Simmons until now.”

    -“Yes, this is the truth.” Candy said.

    -“Then, know that my grandson can not be involved with girls like you.”

    -“I find it difficult to understand what you mean,” Candy said puzzled.

    -“You understand me perfectly well. I’m sure that you had planned that so called accidental incident last night.”

    -“I never planned anything. When I came to my senses I had no idea of where I was.”

    -“Stop lying to me!” the lady snorted. “Everyone in this town knows who we are. There are many young girls that are after Anthony, but he remains faithful to the memory of his only love. I won’t allow any silly and irresponsible brat to play him along, only to get to his money!”

    But what was that talk all about? Candy couldn’t understand a thing. That woman never gave her the chance to explain herself anyway.

    -“So you better leave now. If you wish, I can give you some money in order to leave him alone.”

    Candy had enough. She was so upset that she was red all over.

    -“I can not tolerate such an insult. “ she protested. “I only came to give him a present and thank him for his kindness. That’s all.”

    -“I don’t believe you. Leave now!” said the woman in a loud voice.

    Candy couldn’t stand listening to this woman any more. Coming here was a big mistake after all. She straightened up from her seat and moved to the exit while tears had started to fall from her eyes.

    She went outside and shut the door behind her. She was about to start running when she heard a soft tender voice coming from behind the trees.

    -“Miss, wait a minute.”

    Candy turned to see the young maid that had answered the door earlier.

    -“What do you want?” Candy flattered.

    -“Sir Anthony is trying to gather information concerning you since last night. That poor boy has been through a lot of suffering the past years, and when he brought you in he was very worried that something serious had happened to you.”

    Candy went on crying but still was able to hear of what the servant was saying.

    -“Mrs. Elroy had her people do some research about you but said nothing to sir Anthony about it. That is her usual tactic when a girl interesting in him appears on the scene.”

    -“I only came to give him this,” said Candy and showed her package. “And to thank him for whatever he has done for me.”

    -“Give it to me and I’ll pass it over to him for sure,” said the young girl. Candy wasn’t sure that she was to be trusted, but while looking into her eyes, she got the impression of them being honest and pure. She handed over the package.

    -“Tell me please, where he can reach you?”

    -“There is no need for that. I’ll be out of this town soon. Just thank him for me. Goodnight,” said Candy and turned away.

    -“Hold on! Isn’t there anything else that you want me to tell him on your behalf?”

    -“No,” Candy replied. She thought that when he finally opened her present, he might understand all the unspoken words she wouldn’t never have the chance to say to him.

    **************

    That same night, she sat right next to Mrs. Whitman and read to her a romance story, the kind she liked. Probably that was the last time she would do so, since Candy intended to depart immediately the morning after. The hero of that story was a young man who loved horses. He was kind like Anthony, though his preference was focused on roses. Mrs. Whitman was never a talkative person but tonight she was commenting all the time about the story. Candy was feeling very tired and she wanted to go on her bed and lay down to sleep.

    -“The description of that young lady reminds me of a beautiful girl that used to live around here,” she commented.

    -“Really?” asked Candy.

    -“Yes. Her name was… Elizabeth I think.”

    -“That’s a beautiful name,” said Candy.

    -“That’s true. She was as beautiful as her name. She had black dark hair and blue eyes. All the young men had a crush on her but she had her eyes for only one boy.”

    -“So what happened next?”

    -“Unfortunately, that beautiful rosebud got very sick,” said Mrs Whitman in pain.

    -“She got sick?”

    -“Yes, and one evening, as the sun was setting she was gone too.”

    -“And what happened to the boy she loved?”

    -“He became a loner and didn’t want to see anyone. I think he likes gardening flowers, he has a beautiful garden. These were her favourite kind of flower…”

    Candy without having to think more about it she had started to mist. Was that Anthony, the one that Mrs Whitman had just described? That was the reason of his isolation from the rest of the world? Had he lost his beloved one? She recalled his grandmother’s words; she had told her that he had remained faithful to the memory of his love. And later that maid had said that he had suffered a lot.

    -“What was his name?” she asked.

    -“His name is Anthony.”

    -“Anthony...” whispered Candy.


    ***************

    The next day she had already packed. She went to Father Quinn and asked for his blessing. He wished her the best of luck and Candy got into the carriage that was waiting for her outside. Late that night she had already arrived to the orphanage. Mrs Pony and Sister Mary were delightful and welcomed her with joy.

    -“I’m so glad that you’re back my child,” said Mrs Pony.

    -“I can imagine your excitement the moment you read the news in our letter,” added Sister Mary.

    -“I was thrilled for sure,” Candy replied.

    They walked inside and sat at the Mrs Pony’s small office. The children had fallen asleep and Candy didn’t have the chance to see them. She would though the day after.

    Mrs Pony served hot tea and bread for Candy. That was exactly what she needed; she didn’t have anything to eat during the whole day.

    -“Candy, I’ve started to sew your wedding dress,” said Sister Mary.

    -“Thank you very much Sister Mary.”

    -“You don’t have to thank me my child. I always do so when one of our girls is getting married.”

    -“Really, how does this man looks like? When will I have the chance to meet him?”

    -“Now that you’re here, we’ll notify him to come so you’ll get to finally get to know each other. Candy my child; this is very fortunate for you. And because of your good looks he went ecstatic when he saw your photograph. Imagine that he insisted of coming to meet you in the place you were,” said Mrs Pony full of excitement.

    -“But I still have no clue about his appearance...” Candy complained.

    -“My child, he doesn’t have to look handsome. He has all you’ll ever need for a happy life. He’s a doctor and he’s paid well for his services. He has a house of his own. You’ll have lots of children and you’ll be very happy.”

    Why does she doubt it so much lately?

    -“That’s fine,” Candy said.

    -“You better go to bed now, it’s getting late child,” Sister Mary suggested. “You’ll see, God is great and fair and you’ll be rewarded from now on.”

    -“Goodnight Mrs Pony. Goodnight Sister Mary.” Candy greeted and went for the children’s dorm. There was a spare bed and Candy lay there trying to be discreet and not to wake someone up. She shut her eyes and in her mind came Anthony. Why was he there, in her thoughts, so frequently these days? Everything was over now. Did he ever receive her present? Did the young maid deliver it to him? She couldn’t keep on torturing herself with these thoughts. She closed her eyes and much later fell asleep.

    *****************

    The morning after she got up earlier than the others and started getting dressed. She was anxious to have a lonely walk on her favourite hill. It was the place she always visited every time she wanted to think or relax. She opened the door and ran across the field and as soon as she reached her destination she lay on the ground. It wouldn’t be much longer for the spring time to come; she could smell it all around through in nature. She stayed like this for quite some time until the sun raised and started to blind her.

    Suddenly, she thought that she could see the silhouette of someone heading towards her. Who could that be? It sure wasn’t Mrs Pony neither Sister Mary. It was a young boy and it was approaching her even more closely. Now she could see clear enough but when she realised who he was she was sure she might be dreaming.

    Anthony was walking fast to get to were she was. He came closer and reached for her. In his hand he was holding a white rose. He was dressed in the same outfit that Candy had seen him so many times and he looked exactly as if her statuette had came to life, in flesh and blood.

    -“Good morning,” he said.

    -“Good morning,” she managed to say with shivering lips.

    -“I wanted to give you this.”

    -“The rose?”

    -“Yes.”

    -And you came here just for this?”

    -“Yes,” Anthony said again.

    He passed the flower to her, touching softly her hand.

    -“You created something for me so I named those roses after you.”

    -“You gave them my name?”

    -“Yes. Sweet Candy.”

    -“Sweet Candy...” she repeated. “How do you know that I made that statuette?”

    -“I’ve heard all about it. And I know that every morning you were passing by and stopped to observe me.”

    -“You really knew?”

    -“Yes, and that afternoon I was waiting for you on your way back, so I could talk to you. But you were scared and ran off.”

    -“So it was you who was following me?”

    -“I apologise for scaring you. I’ve been meaning to explain myself but you ran away again. I didn’t know were you were staying. By the time I got to know everything I wanted concerning you, you had vanished once more.”

    -“I’m sorry. I came back to thank you but…”

    “Yes, I know. It’s my grandmother. Forgive her. She’s not mean; she’s just worry about me, that’s all.”

    -“You really liked my statuette?”

    -“It’s beautiful.” Anthony said.

    -“How did you find out that I moved here?”

    -“It took me a while, but I finally got to know everything about you.”

    -“I’m getting married…” said Candy. “That is why I came back.”

    -“Is that true?” he asked.

    -“It’s true.”

    Then he moved closer to her, touched her hands tenderly and kissed them. Candy felt unable to move. He bent over and placed his lips upon hers. There were so many hidden feelings which that kiss had awaken... He held her tight in his arms, she wasn’t able to react. After letting her go softly, he looked deeply into her eyes.

    -“Let’s go,” he said to her.

    -“To where?”

    -“Let’s go to the church to get married.”

    **************

    Candy has her hands covered in clay as she’s trying to shape the clay with her fingers tips. She’s looking outside the window and sees the sun that it’s about to set. She thinks that it’ll be a good idea to shape a bird, a bird with big open wings ready to fly free in the evening breeze. At the moment she starts to move her hands softly touching the clay, she feels a soft chill down her spine.

    Anthony is standing right above her. He tenderly moves away her hair with his hand, then he leans over and gives her a sweet kiss right were her neck begins. She keeps on cherishing the material that she holds between her palms. But in a moment she forgets all about it. She forgets what she was planning to create, forgets the bird and its big open wings.

    She turns around and takes her beloved one in her full of mud arms. She shuts her eyes to think that happiness can simply be one single moment in life.

    In a gaze, in a scent, in a memory and in our hearts.

    The End