Bear

Secret Garden

Sandy wanted to change her life so she moved to a new town, started a new job. But there was something missing in her life, she was lonely even with people around. She made friends fast but they didn’t settle that longing in her soul. then things started to overwhelm her she was feeling lost, she felt nonexistent. Roaming around the house, going from room to room she finally settled in the kitchen drinking a glass of water.
And as Sandy sat in her kitchen thinking about her life, the problems that she was trying to over come, and that seemed to be overwhelming her, her work, her love, everything that she seemed to try always went wrong. What more could she do, she didn’t really know, wondering which way to turn or where to start.

Suddenly she stood up suddenly feeling trapped and needing to get out of her house, to get out of the box she felt closing round her. She got into her car and starting it then lowering her head to the steering wheel crying where do I go, I need someplace quiet, someplace to forget everything even just for a few minutes, sitting up she put the car in gear and backed out and started to just drive.

She drove to a small wooded area just on the edge of the town, she now called her home. Driving not knowing where or why she was, then putting the car in park and she turned off the car engine, she still did not know just why she was there, or exactly where she was. All she knew was that where was noone around and it looked quiet and relaxing place to sit

She opened her door and got out the car, picking up a cold bottle of water she had just brought at the service station, she started making her way down the narrow path that lead into the woods. Walking in a little daze half thinking and half hypnotized by the surrounds.

As she moved through the woods the branches of the trees intertwined over head like a large green umbrella, the sun light trickled through the branches, spreading, shifting rays of light throughout the world she now walked through. As she looked ahead she could just make out a small clearing, thinking it’s the perfect place and it was as if it was made for her. Quietly, scared to make any kind of noise for fear of breaking the silence, she entered the glade. There in the center of the clearing was a fallen tree and she sat on one of the logs and taking a drink of her water.

It was so quiet, so peaceful, and almost at once her unsettling mind started to calm, thoughts that had been bouncing around in her mind like a ship on an a turbulent sea, now seemed to make a little sense. Easing the tension that rattled her mind.

She sat thinking about her life again, as the sun set, and the red orb and beautiful shades of color touching the evening filled the blue sky, a small noise near her brought her from her thoughts. She looked down and noticed several small squirrels and chipmunks now played and gathered nuts and seeds near her, seemingly not taking notice of her being there. As she watched, a young deer slowly entered the glade from the woods edge. She sat still, not wanting any moves or sounds so not to frighten away any of the animals. As the skies darkened that was the first hint of nights coolness, as the animals started to leave the glade. Sandy slowly stood up, and found her way back to the car.

As she drove back to her flat, her mind was finally at peace for now.

She often went back to the glade when she felt troubled or had some sort of problem that was unsettling, each time putting her life back into order. The animals seemed to know her, and accept her and every once in a while one or two would come up to her, even once a little doe walked over to her and lick her hand then scurried away , all through the spring she learned so much about them and their ways.

Then one afternoon, as she entered her glade, noticing another person sitting on her log. Silently she approached, trying not to break the magic that the glade held, there was a man sitting in deep thought, about her own age, who seemed to lost in his memories and trapped in the wizardry of the glades, she knew so very well.
She slowly moved next to him, then when he noticed her, he jumped, “Sorry” she said, “I did not mean to startle you.”. My name is Sandy she whispers as the animals start looking at her and she didn’t want to startle them either for this was their place, their home. He looks at her then says his name is Tom

And that was the beginning, as they talked in soft whispers learning as much about each other as they could in the little time they were together, and as they sat, the animals came out to greet their friend and her new man, that even now was starting to become part of her life. They sat there watching the sunset which seemed to be more magnificent then all the other previous sunset she witnessed.

” Was it because of Tom?” she wondered

The days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and the seasons came first fall with the changing of the colors and the cool days, then winter, then spring and the blooming of the flowers and trees and plants then summer and back to fall the beautiful color of the trees, the animals scurrying around collecting food for the long wither. Even though they did meet and go out, the glade was still their special place, their sanctuary, As winter turned to spring and everything started to blossom and grow, so did their love.
Tom made a special picnic for them, bringing a single rose, a bottle of champaign and some fresh strawberries, then later that evening during one of the most magnificent sunsets, Tom knelt down on one knee

“You fill my thoughts,
and all my dreams,
you are a part of
my soul.”

Then asking her to be his wife, there in their special garden that had become a second home, their sanctuary for the both of them.

Six months later, as they were married in the glade they now called their secret garden a small group of friends and family gathered for they special day. As they were about to leave they kissed beside the log where they would sit and where the animals played in the autumn sunlight, Sandy and Tom both holding the wedding bouquet they laid it down for their small friends and left, as they shared their marriage with the glade and all their animal friends.

As the years seemed to speed by and the leaves of the trees turned through their full range of colors. And as with each new season it brings forth a new life, so did our marriage. The guests of the glade , their secret garden went from two to three. They lived very fulfilled lives, as a family, with a love that is forever blessed by their special spot, now our special garden where we first met, and laughed and enjoyed all the beautiful sunsets, where we found the love of our lives, our soul mate.