[A friend]

Nikolai’s POV

I stare at the little lake in the garden, my eyes fixed on the blooming bluebell sprout. A smile on my cheek, my thoughts ruminating over the peace I feel alone in the garden. I remember as a little boy playing in the garden with mother chasing over me, and when I asked her with my boyish grin why she loved playing in the garden.

This was her response: “This garden birthed I and your father’s love story. I met your father as a little girl and he as a little boy. In here our love story was sealed but we were too blind not to...