Doris and I walked out of the living room under Rose and Mark's watchful gaze, feeling their scrutinizing eyes boring into us as the door closed behind us.

Stepping into the tranquil courtyard, we passed through it and then into the garden. The garden cocooned us in its serene stillness. The occasional gentle rustle of leaves and the soft fluttering of birds' wings disrupted the calm. The vibrant hues of various flowers lit up the whole area, their petals swaying gracefully in the breeze. Equally colorful butterflies of all shapes and sizes flitted about in the garden, adding an ethereal feel and look to the space.

I admired the flowers...