The Truth Untold || KTH || ✔️

Part One

My home was big but cold and empty. It was the only thing I had, however, and I never left it's protective walls.

I slept during the day, unable to face the bustling life of the small town just down the dirt path that led to my house. During the night I sat in my window, looking down at the only possessions I had that gave me even the slightest sliver of joy.

My rose garden. My beautiful, silent garden that had no fear or judgement.

They cared not that I was disfigured and ugly. They had no fear and they would not leave me alone as the rest of the world had.

They were everything I was not; beautiful and strong, unyielding to the rest of the world. Yet, they were able to protect themselves from any threats.

In a way, I was envious of the flowers. But I also loved them with my whole heart.

It must have been well past midnight when I first saw movement by my iron gates. It was dark, but I could make out a figure squeezing through the gaps of the bars.

The moonlight hit them as they turned, and I was surprised to see a young woman. She looked fairly pale, and was covered by a dark cloak with a wicker basket over her arm.

I raised myself just a little from my chair when she looked around, a little nervously, then walked towards my precious roses.

I felt anger bubbling up in my stomach as she lifted a small pair of shears and carefully selected a rose before snipping it and pulling it away from it's home.

Clenching my fists, I wanted to stop her, but could do nothing. I was too afraid.

She continued to take roses from my garden until her small basket was full, and then she stepped back through the iron bars and vanished down the dirt path.

I was so upset that I had no idea what to do. Why would someone take my roses? They were all I had; my only possessions. He had no love or contact with others. I had no friendship or joy. All I had was my garden, and this woman had stolen my flowers in the dead of night.

The thought stayed with me through the night. I was barely able to sleep in the day, as all I could think of was this sneaky woman, coming to steal my only happiness.

The next night, she returned. I was surprised that she would come back a second time, but once again, her basket was empty and in her had was the little set of shears.

Again, she selected some of my roses, carefully laying them in her basket before leaving.

She did this night after night, but the fourth night was different.

The woman was not wearing the black hood of the cloak over her head. In the moonlight, I got a much better look at her face, and I was surprised.

She was beautiful. She had nothing marring her smooth skin. Her face was serious, yet delicately feminine, with eyes and hair so dark that they looked black in the nighttime. She moved with grace, not like a no-good thief and my eyes were drawn to her like a magnet.

The moonlight made her eyes sparkle, and her skin glow. My heart raced in it's bone cage, filling my ears as I watched her select roses and place them in the basket.

When she left, I stood up. I had to face my fears.

Once morning arrived, I readied myself. I selected my thickest, largest cloak and picked up the ceramic mask that sat on the small table next to my bed.

Despite being desperately afraid, I needed to know for sure the reason this woman was taking my roses.

It was cold and rainy, but I wrapped my cloak around me, pulling the hood up to cover my masked face, and began the reluctant and nerve wrecking trudge to the small town.

Despite the rain, it was busy. My shaking fingers held my cloak tightly around my body, afraid that it would somehow come undone and reveal my ugliness to the people around me.

I carefully picked my way through the crowds until I heard a beautiful voice, like a bird singing, calling out for the attention of her surroundings.

I followed the sound, and there she was, standing on the corner, trying to keep dry as she held out roses with her perfect, unflawed hands.

My beautiful rose thief.

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AN: I'm planning on this being only a two shot