"All things beautiful. All things bright and beautiful," I delivered the line starry-eyed, going round and round amid the trees, while my feet are bare.

My arms are stretched sidewards, my palms opened up like I'm embracing the sun's radiance, drenching me. As my wavy, long, black hair followed my head's movement, my flowy, long, dark yellow-orange dress twirled, akin to a ballerina's skirt.

The image of the bluish-white sky, the white clouds, the yellow-orange sun, the mahogany shade of the tree trunks with their green leaves, and the rich color of the green grass blurred in my vision. Although it's blurry, the scenery is still breathtaking. Nothing can ever beat the beauty of nature, because it's a masterpiece. It's timeless.

"All creatures great and small", I continued, while I closed my eyes.

I heard the bark of my dog, the song of the birds, the buzz of the bees, the crunching of the fallen leaves, the swaying of the trees, and the whispers of the wind, as their sounds faded into the background, yet the hymn of nature continues to whisper into my ears, which is luring me to fancy and to praise it.

I came to a halt, while my eyes remained closed. Stumbling a bit, stars seem to swirl above my head. I felt a paw, on my right foot, which saved me from my fall. A whimper from my dog, Sol, followed. Regaining my composure, I smiled. I'm amused at his cute antics. 

I opened my eyes, and a hazy vision filled my sight. I blinked twice to adjust my sight from the light. I scanned my surroundings.

A smile tugged on my lips, adoring the scenery. Since day one, I have been devoted to worshipping it.

I feel the wind hugging me, comforting my weary soul. Saying softly to me that, sometimes it's alright to act like a child, although you're not. There's no need to rush, because those who rush, stumble and fall.

"All things wise and beautiful." I inhaled the air. I sighed contentedly. My heart and lungs are relieved from their heaviness.

Looking up to the sky, "The Lord God made them all," I ended my delivery of the literary piece.

"Years had passed. I can still recite the first stanza of the poem," I said to no one while reminiscing about my elementary days. 

"I'm good at memorizing, noh? Am I right or am I right?" I said proudly, turning to Sol, who is sitting by my side. He barked at me without a choice. I laughed silently.

I crouched to level my height similar to Sol. I noticed his wagging tail. I smiled cheekily, and I touched it, which made him walk away from me. 

I laughed heartily. I stood up, and I brushed the dirt, patting my dress. I clasped my hands, and I placed them on my back while walking toward my runaway dog. 

A laugh escaped my lips followed by an unladylike snort. He quickened his pace, so I quickened mine too. I chased my dog, despite my blistered feet. Under the afternoon sun, laughter and loud paces can be heard throughout the forest.

I touched my chest, while I was catching my breath. Sweat trickled down my cheek from my forehead.

I placed the strand of my hair, which was blocking my sight, behind my ear. Sol whimpered. I gave him a weak smile to assure him. I stared at the beautiful scenery behind the tall, gold gate in front of me.

We tend to feel homesick for a place, where our heart is whole. A place, where we are healed from our wounds. A place where we are comforted, understood and loved. A place where our innocence is retained, and we are free without any hesitations. It may exist, or not, but this place is our version of paradise, and in front of me, is my paradise. 

I crouched, and I removed a necklace with a key pendant from Sol's neck. I stood up, and I inserted the key in the padlock, turning it to the right. As I pushed the gate, it creaked a sound. I stepped inside with Sol behind me.

"I went to the garden," I sang the first line.

The grass tickled my feet. The grass was filled with different kinds of flowers. On the ground, small trees with flowers, and rose bushes stood. Tall, Calachuchi trees, non-bearing fruit trees, and apple shrubs stood as well. My paradise, my home, my garden of flowers.

I walked, hopping on the stepping stones, further inside my garden.

"I picked some flowers beautiful," I continued singing, picking up fallen leaves along the way. 

The birds on the tree twigs chirped synchronically, composing a wonderful lullaby.

"And the bird sings a song to me," They welcomed me through a wonderful, soothing song. 

I heard a familiar whistle. I walked a little bit further to the source of the sound. With every step, the song of the whistle gets clearer. 

"One of the Beatles' songs," I whispered to myself. I know one person who keeps whistling one of the Beatles' songs. 

"Lolo!" I called out, as a familiar figure of an old man, who is watering the flowers, turns out to be my grandfather, came into view. Surprised, he stopped the flow of the water from the hose, and he scanned the garden. When he saw me, recognition crossed his face.

"Hija!" I grinned at him, waving. He grinned back. He has a missing tooth. I laughed silently. I walked closer. When he saw me clearly, he glanced at my feet. His grin turned grim. I giggled. 

"How many times do I have to tell you th–"

"You always need to wear your slippers," I continued his sentence.
"I always keep that in mind, Lolo." He looked at me incredulously.

"Slippers make me uncomfortable, but believe me, Lolo, I always remember your reminders. I just don't follow them," I said, raising my right hand like I'm keeping my oath.

He sighed. I hugged my grandfather, and he returned a warm embrace.

He caressed my hair, and it comforted me. I felt the fatherly love, which my biological father deprived of me. 

"Are you tired of me, Lolo? Are you tired of reminding me? Tired of waiting for me to visit you every summer?" I asked, muffling on his polo shirt.

He faced me and flicked my forehead. I pouted. He just smiled at me. 

He pulled something behind him, then a flower crown filled with rosemary flowers appeared in front of me. It has an elegant design. It's beautiful.

"Do you see these flowers, Fleur?" He pointed out. I nodded.

"From the day they bloomed till the day they face their doom, they are always drenched in rain, for them to grow. Despite their short lives, they lived their life to the fullest, waiting for sunny days." He placed the flower crown on my head. Something warm touched my heart. 

"That flower crown is a rosemary flower crown. Rosemary flowers mean remembrance, and I want you to remember that in every bloom, ever doom, I'm always here waiting for you, Fleur, hija."

I felt a tear of joy rolling down my cheek, and that tear of joy splattered on the ground, unknowingly, becoming tears of sadness.

"And I cried silently," I sang, walking on the dead grass and withered flowers. Nimbus clouds loomed over me. Rain sprinkled, drenching me.

I carried my heavy, wet wedding gown. "A wedding," I thought bitterly. A wedding that was supposed to happen…if only my groom didn't ditch on me. 

It has been years since someone loved me genuinely. Not my father, not my mother, not my fiance, not my cousins, not my relatives. If only I had a sibling, it would have been a little bit different. Well, except my dog and my…

"For I remembered my Lolo," I continued the song, changing the lyrics. My dog and my Lolo. The two important beings in my life. They are the only ones who truly loved me. They are now in front of me, waiting for my visit, but sleeping peacefully inside their graves. 

"Ever bloom, ever doom, I'm always here waiting for you, Fleur, hija."

"Lolo, come back to me," I ended the song. Tears of sadness rolled down my face. How I miss my life before reality ruined everything. How I wish for sunny days. Will the sun rise again for me?

"Thank you for waiting, Sol, Lolo."