Beyond the Divorce

As I reached the doorway, someone opened the door for me, and I stepped inside.

The house was grand. It gleamed white like something out of a fairy tale palace. The landscaping in the courtyard was beautifully manicured, with a veranda at one end and a white swing gently swaying in the breeze. I could almost see a girl in a red dress sitting on it, her laughter echoing in the courtyard, while a handsome boy pushed her higher on the swing. She soared like a bird, high into the air.

The boy was handsome, exuding an aura of elegance.

The girl excitedly shouted, "Higher. Can you make me go higher?"

As I turned around, I saw a gentle woman sitting on the veranda, watching us from afar.

I heard the girl's voice ring out, "Mommy, am I high enough?"

She just smiled, not saying a word.

The woman got up to leave, and I quickly looked away from the swing, hurrying to catch up. I felt a genuine fondness for her.

She was just ahead of me, heading toward the villa's greenhouse. It was a large glass structure bathed in sunlight, looking absolutely radiant inside.

It was filled with exotic flowers and plants, and I gazed around curiously.

large pond, quietly observing the lotus blooming there. They were pale

"Stella."

her call out, and

me, "Do you

nodded with a bright smile. "It's beautiful. Why do

embodiment of all things beautiful." She opened her hand, revealing a miniature

at the

inset rubies carved into the shape of petals that were intricately mounted on a base. The entire flower was exquisitely crafted and lifelike, sparkling in her palm, its priceless value

me feel particularly warm,

brooch to my dress. It

out of the

the gates open again, and a car drove in. Several people got out. Their faces

saw my father when he was young. He

ran back into the house, still shouting, "Atlas, come

hall, and I kept calling out

was a white piano that gleamed, like