One day, as he travelled back to his cottage from the city, he decided to take another path, as this peculiar path has caught his attention for quite some times now. The enviable feeling plus the enormous curiosity in him that day just got hold of him. As he walked down the narrow lane, to his surprise, he came to a mysterious rose garden. The serenity of the garden was beyond fascination. Unbelievable as it seems, he was filled with wondrous desire to explore further. Without second thought, he decided to walk into this secret garden. A place that seems to be undiscovered yet by anyone but, somehow seems to have a guardian of its own as the garden was perfectly maintained. He spend almost his whole day admiring the roses in this lovely garden until he didn't seems to realize that it was almost dusk and the day is getting dark. Unwilling to leave, he made a promise to himself that he will be back again.
True to his words, he was back again to the rose garden the next day after his journey from the city. Now, this has become a daily routine. Everyday he would stopped by at this garden before sunset, just to be there as he found warm comfort, the tranquility of inner peace in this special place. One day, after the rainfall, he saw a rainbow shining out from one side of the garden. He was astonished by the beauty and radiance of the light and he went closer to have a better view. To his pleasant surprise, it led him to another path with arches of colorful roses along the way. He took every step with delicate attention as the sparkle of the dews simply mesmerized him. Finally, he found himself at a crystal pavilion. It was like a dream. Most of the structures there were built with crystals and gems. But, that didn't catch much of his attention because in the center of the pavilion stood an altar. On top of the altar was a pot of mystical crystal rose. Speechless and stunned, the gardener couldn't hardly believe in his lifetime that he was looking at a live rose with soft colorful crystal petals. Believe it or not, at the foot of a rainbow was actually a pot of crystal rose and it brought out the most radiant colors of life to which only a blessed man could only get to see.
Amazed by what he had seen, the gardener felt a great sense of fulfillment as he had never ever been so excited before in his life. Seeing such wonders, he slowly find salvation in this garden. He even started to take care of the garden as if it is his own. He came to water the flowers everyday, making sure the garden was as brilliant as ever. There was moment when he was so tempted to touch the crystal rose but he did not dare to do it for fear that it will wilt. So, he decided to leave it as natural as it was. Time came to a past, the garden became prettier and prettier each day. All the roses grew to be so big and beautiful. Soon the path to the crystal pavilion became so narrow and it was now difficult for the man to walk in. Nevertheless, he didn't mind getting pierced or cut by the thorns of the roses just as long as he could spend his time there at the pavilion, admiring the crystal rose. He was reluctant to cut even a single twig of the rose tree and soon there were scratches and bruises all over his body.
One day, as he was wandering in the crystal pavilion, suddenly he saw a few luscious looking butterflies dancing around the crystal rose. The rose then shone its color so brilliantly as if it was smiling and enjoying the presence of the passionate winged creatures. An impetuous feeling of revulsion enveloped his mind. His envious eyes watched every little movements made by the butterflies as he got closer to them. Petrified by the hasty appearance of the gardener, the group of butterflies slowly departed from the crystal pavilion, leaving the man alone with the crystal rose once more. Nevertheless, the crystal rose still dazzled with joyful colors but the man refused to smile and walked away instead.
The man was finally back to his home. Feeling tired, he then fell fast asleep. It was morning. The vision, the light shining across the room lit up his hope for another exciting day. The smell of the morning breeze was like never before. The fresh air and beautiful sunshine rushing through the morning mist were simply blissful. It was just like another beautiful day yet to be discovered. Surprisingly, it was true indeed, the moment he walked into the rose garden, the feeling was just like the one he had in the beginning. Everything looked like before. The path to the crystal pavilion wasn't narrow but back to how it was in the beginning. Astonished, he found a beautiful lady sitting beside the water fountain next to the altar. She seemed different. She had wings like a fairy. "
I've been expecting you" said the lady. The man was puzzled. He then asked, "
Who are you?". The lady gave him a smile and answered "
I am Rosalynna. I am a rose fairy. This is my home. I lived here". The gardener was silent for while and as he looked around, he found out the crystal rose was no where to be seen. He quickly asked her, "
Where is the crystal rose on the altar?". "
Have you not recognize me?" said the rose fairy with a slow soothing voice. "
Yes, the feeling, the 
sparkles in your eyes seems so familiar, just like the crystal rose" continued the man. Again, the rose fairy gave him a beautiful smile and whispered, "
I am the crystal rose you saw all day while you were here". "
You said you were expecting me..." said the gardener, a curious thought lingered in his mind. The rose fairy stood up and walked around the altar. She then said, "
True indeed, I was expecting you, like I always did, since I first laid my eyes on you. Tell me, why didn't you take me with you when I was a rose? You know, I am yours". "
I can't" said the man. "
Why? You took good care of me right? You gave me water when I was thirsty, you sang to me when I was lonely, you kept me safe and warm beside you like a child longing for a mother's love. You made me smiled the whole day. You cared for me like I am yours" said the rose fairy with joy radiating from her lovely face. The man was flattered by what Rosalynna said but he still insisted that Rosalynna doesn't belong to him. "
I was tempted to take you with me but I can't do it because you are so beautiful. I want to see you exactly the way you are". Then he whispered to himself, "
But this is not my heart desired. Probably I have fallen in love with you more than I myself would ever know". The rose fairy paused and then stared at the man with her sultry eyes. "
Look at your hands. All those scars, doesn't that means anything to you at all?" asked the rose fairy. The man did not say anything. She then continued, "
You have reached past the test of time by going through the thorns of life set out in your paths and now you have finally discovered the beauty that lies within. Now I am yours, take me with you". Astounded by her words, the gardener said, "
I am sorry but I cannot take you with me". "
Why are you so reluctant?", Rosalynna asked. "
Because you belong here, in this garden and not mine", answered the man as he looked down and breathed
deeply. The fairy flew over and sat on top of the altar and said to him, "
So, you have a garden of your own". "
Yes. In fact, it is the most beautiful garden in this land until... until I found this place" said the man with a slight frown glaring across his face. The rose fairy gave the man a grin and said, "
Sometimes, things isn't always what it seems to be. Not all things you see is what you get. Anyway, are you still insisting not to take me with you?". The man remained silent but anxiety was burning inside him. "
Well, if that is your choice, let it be then. The time has come, I am leaving now. But, remember what I said, not all things are to be taken for granted. Cherish what you have, for what you have might not be yours always", said the rose fairy. Slowly she raised up from the altar and bright light was shining upon her as she slowly disappeared into thin air. The man shouted, "
No! Wait...!".
The man jumped up from his bed. He was sweating all over. Shivering and shocked by his dream, he wiped his face with his palms. Was that a terrible dream, a sign, he thought to himself as he slowly walk over to his room's window. It was already dawn. For a moment there, everything seems to be so real. He then rushed over to the secret garden as he felt something was not right at all. The minute he arrived at the entrance of the garden, he got shocked to his spine to see that the garden were filled with people, as if the garden now has turned into a park for people to enjoy their free time. He can even see children playing around and elderly reading books on the benches. He couldn't believe his eyes for the sudden changes that happened in this garden. He walked over to the crystal pavilion but it was not there anymore. All he saw was an old looking altar with creepers plant all around. The gardener were left speechless and he sat down on the ground. Suddenly, an old man approached him and said, "
Son, are you looking for something?". The man looked up at him and said, "Y
esterday, this garden wasn't like this. No one ever came here. There was a pavilion here and now it was gone". "
Ahh well, young man, I've been working here for more than 5 years now as the park warden and I can humbly tell you that there was no pavilion here at all" explained the old man. He then continued, "
But, I heard of a legend about this garden". "
What legend?" asked the man. "
Yes, the legend of a Man and The Secret Rose Garden", exclaimed the old man while walking over to the altar. Surprised by what the old man just said, he anxiously asked, "
What about the legend?". "
The legend says that once the was a secret rose garden guarded by a rose fairy. Her name was Rosalynna. One
day, a man came to the secret garden and take care of it. She then felt in love with him and as a token of her affection, she offer herself to him. But, he refused to take her with him and the fairy left. However, she did engraved something on this altar", the old man said to him as he pointed to the where the inscription was. The gardener quickly when over and clear the altar. Finally, he found the writing that said, "
Cherish what you have, for what you have might not be yours always". He stood there for while and suddenly everything become clear to him now. Alas, it was too late for him to know what it truly meant. Tears slowly rolled down from his eyes. He quickly ran back to his own garden, as fast as his heart could take him. But, only to found out that his own garden was now nothing but a dried land. Fell on his knees, he has no one to be blamed but himself.
- The End -
"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity."
~ The Book of Ecclesiates 11:9-10
