The Refuge

Chapter 5

Flowers are like your friends, they add color to your life.
                            —Unknown

                

 A ball of yellow light peeked behind the white clouds. It cast golden streaks on the surface of the earth. 

The gushing of water filled the air as Paloma went about tending to the potted plants and herbs that filled her garden. Their different hues entwined formed a breathtaking myriad. 

She hummed the hymn "Oh happy day" as she moved from plant to plant with her metal watering can. Her eyes gleamed with recognition when she reached each plant. 

From the age of ten, she could identify the seedlings of many plants. As a little girl, her favorite subject in primary school was science and when she graduated to high school, it became Agriculture science and it remained that way until college. 

From one plant to the other, the water trickled out through the spout and roamed down the leaves. At last, she reached the last plant in the row—her favorite flower—Tulips. She brushed a finger over the maroon petals and grinned. Her heart swelled as she thought about the reason for her likeness. 

Chestnut eyes flashed through her mind. The love and appreciation that shone in those eyes brought a smile to her face. 

Eyes that belonged to a little poor girl. A girl whose mother was rescued from the clutches of sickness. A girl who despite her tender age knew and understood the importance of gratitude. 

That fateful day was so vivid in Paloma's mind she felt it was happening all over again. 

The day she got a bunch of tulips in place of payment for treatment. 

The conversation with the girl floated back to her. . .

                       ★★★★★

"We have no money to pay you. But we can pay you in other ways, can't we?" She stared up at Paloma with hope gleaming in her eyes. 

Paloma and the girl stood alone outside a rundown shack. 

Paloma's heart squeezed in pain at the situation. And all coherent words evaded her. 

She swallowed hard to clear the lump in her throat. "Well, maybe." She sent the girl an empathetic smile."Maybe there is another way." Her head tilted a little. However, her eyes fixated on something. "What do you have there?" She asked the girl as she noticed the girl's hands were behind her back. 

The girl shuffled on her feet and her eyes filled with hesitation. "Um. . . nothing. . .no,  I mean. . .will this be enough?" She slowly brought her hand forward and produced a bunch of yellow tulips. 

Paloma's eyes widened and her lips puckered. She gazed at the girl while she battled her loss of words. After a few beats of silence, a look of resignation formed on the girl's face and she began to redraw her hands. That brought Paloma to action. 

She snatched the bouquet."Of course, it will!" She cried.  "This is worth more than any amount of money," she said with a voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, darling. It's beautiful." She crouched to the girl's level and pulled her in for a hug. 

    "Thank you too for treating my Mummy. You are an angel, Miss Paloma." 

                          

                 ★★★★★

 A pounding sound jolted her from her reverie. And she found herself back in the present. She still carried the empty watering can and her position in front of the tulips had not changed. She gently ran her hand over the leaves one more time and turned to go.