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.

saw her by a large pond, quietly observing the lotus blooming there.

"Stella."

call out, and

"Do

beautiful. Why do you

embodiment of all things

I stared at the lotus in her

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 evident. "It's

made me feel particularly warm, and

pinned the lotus brooch to my dress. It shimmered brilliantly against the backdrop

out of the garden while

out. Their faces

all looked at me, smiling. The young man leaned against a couple, and I saw my father when he was young. He picked me up, spinning me around, and

house, still shouting, "Atlas, come

into the hall, and I kept calling out to them, rushing

was a white piano that gleamed, like