It was Monday morning, and I had just woken up, groggy and restless. The house was quiet as usual, Theo was already at school, and Darian was buried in yet another business meeting. Perfect.
I decided today was the day I'd sneak out. Not for anything scandalous, but to help plan our high school reunion. Something about it felt thrilling, slipping out unnoticed, avoiding prying eyes.
I pulled on a simple brown ribbed top and black flared pleated pants. I'm not much of a fashion girl, and with my short white hair, I wasn't sure the outfit even suited me. But today, I had bigger concerns than my reflection.
Carefully, I moved from room to room, dodging bodyguards and house staff. Every step felt like a mission. I couldn't let anyone stop me or worse, report back to Darian. By the time I reached the back of the mansion, my pulse was racing with the thrill of it all.
Just as I was about to slip out the gate, I heard voices. I quickly ducked into a bush, my heart hammering in my chest. Peering through the leaves, I spotted Mr. Patrick, our elderly gardener, talking to one of the newer staff members.
"Hey, Mr. Patrick," the younger gardener greeted, holding a single white tulip in his hand.
"Hello, son. What brings you here?" Mr. Patrick asked, his voice warm but curious.
"Do you know who this belongs to?" The young man held out the tulip.
At the sight of the flower, Mr. Patrick's expression shifted. "Ah, so it's that time of year again," he murmured, taking the tulip delicately from the boy's hands.
"What do you mean, sir? Who's it for?"
Mr. Patrick shook his head, a small, wistful smile playing on his lips. "I've worked here all my life, tending this garden since the mansion was built. And every year, around the fourth week of April, a single white tulip arrives here with a note addressed 'To my Tulip.'"
The younger man frowned. "Who's it for?"
"No one knows," Patrick replied. "The note never includes a name. We've all wondered, but the answer has remained a mystery."
I held my breath, intrigued. A tulip? A secret note? I'd never heard of this before. Who could it be for?
The gardeners eventually moved on, leaving the mystery unanswered. Once the coast was clear, I slipped out of my hiding spot, still pondering the tulip as I made my way out of the mansion.