Ꮆ𝔞𝔯𝔡𝔢𝔫 T𝔢𝔪𝔭𝔱𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫: 𝒜 𝒢𝒾𝓇𝓁'𝓈 𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒽

Garden Temptation: A Girl's Wish

(Lower the volume so you can hear yourself read! ♡)

"Wake up honey, dinners ready!" While growling, I realized that I had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room again.

Damn it, it's dark outside. "what time is it?" I gasped when I looked at the clock, "grandma, why didn't you wake me up?". She walked towards me holding a plate of pancakes wearing her usual smile while telling me in a slight sarcastic tone, "Well, you looked so peaceful for once so I just couldn't". I sighed, and accepted the pancakes. They looked so fluffy and delicious there was no way I could stay grumpy. Pancakes usually had this effect on me, maybe she made them knowing that I was going to scold her when I woke up. "Thanks, grandma." I said quietly.

Grandma brought me some silverware and then sat down beside me on the couch. She put her arm around me and said, "Sarah, honey. I hope you to know that I don't mind the things you tell me. And the tantrums you have don't mean anything to me, alright? Do you know why?".

I shacked my head looking down. Immediately after seeing my guilty expression, she hugged me tighter and said with a smile; "Because of times like these".

She paused in order to kiss my forehead and then looked at me, "I know you don't mean to vent the anger out on me, but since I'm the only one here I guess it can't be helped, huh?". She chuckled while letting me go in order to brush some hair strands from my face. She then continued with squishing my face together in order to kiss me on my forehead. At this point I tried to push her away since it was making me incredibly uncomfortable. We ended up wrestling and laughing in a couple of seconds until she finally was satisfied enough to let me go.

She stood up and said "Now eat your pancakes and then go make yourself ready for your evening walk, kay?". I laughed at her sudden change of character and said, "Yeah, yeah, grandma." while grabbing the fork and knife she had put on the table for me.

After eating the pancakes, I put my dirty dishes inside the dishwasher and walked up the stairs towards my room. I took the key out of my right pocket and opened the door. Grandma gave me this key a couple of years ago in order to, "Lock the door, in case someone tries to break in to the house". It's not like I have to worry about that happening though, since we live in the middle of nowhere. But somehow, I still find it pretty cool to be able to have my own key a room. So, now it has become a habit of mine to lock the door every time I leave.

I close the door behind me and leave the key in the door for extra safety. I don't want grandma walking in on me while I change clothes like last time. Ugh, let me forget about that...

Right, I'm going to need something warmer than shorts and a t-shirt if I'm going out at a time like this. Also, a light so I can see where I'm going would be good.

I put on whatever clean socks I can find and then squeeze my legs trough a pair of black tights together with a matching sports-bra. When I finish dressing, it's time to take the key out of my door,
lock it and then hang it around my neck thanks to the brown leather tread I had tied around it.

I began walking down the stairs while trying to put my hair up in a braided ponytail. It was already really dark outside, so I tried to quickly reach for my training jacket in the hallway while trying to simultaneously put on a shoe with my other hand. Of course, I end up falling over.
"Why are you hurrying so much, dear?" asks grandma from the kitchen while she places some washed dishes in the top shelves. "It's like you're late for a date. Oh, It's just like that one time when I-".
I knew where this conversation was going, I've heard it before.
So I quickly grabbed my other shoe before she could finish her sentence and escaped through the door while at the same time managing to grab one of grandma's forehead-lights before the door closed behind me.
I slip my foot inside the other shoe, close my jacket, and then stretch the lamp over my head while heading towards the opposite direction. I frowned my eyebrows and then continued waking in a fast pace.

Through the alarmingly overgrown bushes in our huge garden there is a hidden archway tunnel with plants colonizing the stonework walls surrounding the house.
It's romantic according to grandma, but to me, in the dark, it gave a hauntingly mysterious vibe that could give me nightmares. But at the same time, it sort of fascinates me to the point that I can't stop thinking about it.
I have always thought that something is hidden behind that tunnel, something I just have to see. It's as if someone is calling my name on the other side without using a voice.

A strange connection, a strange feeling, a strange new path trying to lure me towards its hidden secrets.

Well, at least it's trying to. Every time I take a look at this gloomy place something new happens. At this point, I'm more curious of what will happen if I just stand in front of it without falling in its trap. So, from my perspective, this place is like my secret friend. Grandma wouldn't understand. She would just tell me how old and dangerous places like these are, like I don't know that already. That's why I barely dare to get close to it.
I sit down on the grass and start staring at it, in hopes something will happen. But, strangely enough for this place, nothing happened. "That's weird... Why is nothing happening? Something always happens." Even if it's only a bird song or a hefty wind suddenly appearing out of nowhere; something always happens when I'm here.

After stressing myself out over nothing for awhile I ended up convincing myself of the chance that I might have missed it, giving out a loud sigh.

I stood up and looked at the archway while dusting off some grass off my butt.
"Nothing's really happening, huh." Slipped out of my mouth as I began walking along the tall wall of stone until I reached back home.

That night I dreamt about a beautiful place. A field of roses that reached as far as the tallest sunflower.
It was an amazing sight, to say the least.
So, as if natural, I sat down and waited until something interesting would happen.

Suddenly, I could hear a voice saying my name from faraway inside the bushes.
But, that's impossible! there is no way someone could be in there with all the thorns! And even if they were, they would probably be crying in pain if they were trapped in there. And how come they know my name? I don't know anyone with a voice like that.

"Sarah!"
They said again.
But this time it was louder,
or... Was it closer?

Before I knew it, the voice called for me again from a few meters away.
That's impossible! No one can run that fast! And through a field of roses?! In horror, I crawled backwards while the voice came closer.
"Sarah... Sarah!" I screamed and closed my eyes.
They were right in front of me, I knew it.
I could hear them breathing all over me.
Who is this person? What do they want?
I didn't dare to open my eyes, nor did I move an inch.
"H-hello?"
I managed to say while shaking like a leaf. The breathing stopped for a second.
"Sarah... You are Sarah from the house in the forest?" The voice said from a bit further away.

They sound like a boy near my age. But still, his voice seems to be far up and frighteningly calm. "Y-es. Um..." I nervously swallowed all the spit I had collected in my mouth and then said while slowly opening my eyes,
"Who are y-"
...
Before I could finish that sentence,
I woke up in my bed.
It was morning. I wanted to cry.
What the hell was that dream?
Who was that boy?
Sometimes I'm surprised by my own imagination, but this time it felt too real.

I have never been to a place like that, or heard a voice like hers in my life. Nothing made sense.
But then again, dreams aren't supposed to make sense.
I take a deep breath to try and calm my thoughts while moving into a sitting position on my bed.
The covers was sticking to my skin as I tried to get up.
I have been sweating like crazy tonight, disgusting.
A morning shower would be great right now...