Chapter 35 - ELENA’S GARDEN
The foundation opened a new community garden in Elena’s name.
The first flowers were planted by children.
Emma stood beside Lorenzo while Noah joined through a video call from Boston.
A little girl handed Emma a sunflower.
“For Elena.”
Emma crouched down.
“She would love this.”
“Did you know her?”
Emma smiled.
“Yes.”
“Was she nice?”
Emma looked at the flower.
“She became very nice.”
Lorenzo chuckled softly.
Emma glanced at him.
“She had a terrifying stare.”
“I remember.”
The children laughed.
Then everyone planted flowers together.
Red roses.
White lilies.
Yellow sunflowers.
When they finished, Emma stepped back.
The garden was imperfect.
Some flowers leaned sideways.
Some were planted too close together.
But it was alive.
Just like the woman it honored.
Lorenzo slipped his fingers through Emma’s.
“She would have complained about the roses.”
Emma smiled.
“She would have complained about everything.”
“And then secretly loved it.”
Emma looked around the garden.
“I miss her.”
“So do I.”
They stood together beneath the warm afternoon sun.
Missing someone no longer felt like an ending.
May you like
It felt like carrying them forward.
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