Seven

Prologue

“At the strike of 6:00 o’clock in the evening, all the garden chores shall be done.”

Miss Veinstone’s authoritive voice dominated the whole place. Only the hum of late-afternoon breeze joined us at the moment as we take slow walk in the wooden mid-pathway of Evergreen–the alphabet garden as the people say. I can feel my eyes glistened as I roam and see the beautiful sight of different flowers. They’re dancing softly and I feel as though they are welcoming me as their very own keeper.

“Miss Levine, do you heard what I’ve said?”

I am wonderstruck for a while that I forgot to response to her. I did not notice that she already stopped walking and we made quite far distance.

“Yes, of course Miss Veinstone. 6:00 o’clock equals finished garden chores. All noted.” I said with an awkward smile.

She just nod and continue walking. I walk faster after that, just so I can follow her. Silence once enveloped us. I tried to brush away these thoughts of mine, but I cannot just resist it.

6:00 o’clock is quite an early curfew though. I cannot see any danger in the place. Evergreen is even like harbouring a safe haven for people like me–lost and looking for somewhere to breathe.

But what’s the certainty about it, anyway? Danger often lingers wherever the peace is.

Miss Veinstone halt once again, and I almost bump in her back. We are already near in the tall rusty gate of the Evergreen mansion.

“And one more thing, checking that this gate is locked should be also monitored efficiently. Go straight to your room in the first floor after doing it, and don't you ever, go far when it's already six in the evening. This is the only rule in Evergreen, and breaking this rule will only means that you have to walk your way home even if it's 6:01 in the evening.”

She now said with nothing, but seriousness in her fair yet wrinkled face.

The look of being sudden nervous might have really shown to my face after those words. Which is why Miss Veinstone suddenly bursts out a laugh and tapped my right shoulder–trying to ease the overwhelming feeling that she strangely brought to me. I just awkwardly smile to her after that, in order to surpass the heavy ambience between us.

“I’m not really trying to scare you, Ely. It’s just that... I am deeply concerned with what will happen to Evergreen, the garden that she built for years. This place became her breathing space whenever everything seems heavy for her to feel and carry.”

That heavy atmosphere that I’m just talking about a while ago, just vanished easily and seems to float away along the summer breeze. The way Miss Veinstone talked about this person, made me see the sincerity and love that she have for her. She might be her daughter. But where is she now?

“And taking care this wondrous garden is something that I cannot afford to do anymore, because of all the other important things that I need to manage beyond this place. That's why I've been looking for genuine people that I can trust to take over my responsibility here.”

She now face me with a genuine smile yet with melancholic look–something that I didn’t see from the intimidating side of her a while ago.

I cleared my throat and curved my lips into also a genuine smile.

“You can rely your trust to me, Miss Veinstone. I am pretty sure that Evergreen will also serves as my breathing place once I started to work in here.”

Her face brightened and even hug me to show her gratitude.

“Thank you, Ely. Please enjoy your time here and don't forget the only rule that I've said to you, as it is the only condition I give to everyone who came here, but sadly, they all failed to follow it.”