The Velvet Rose

Once upon a time, in a hidden valley where the sun never set, there grew a rose unlike any other. It was known as the Velvet Rose, a flower so rare and beautiful that it was said to bloom only once every hundred years. Its petals were a deep, rich crimson, soft to the touch, like the finest velvet, and it exuded a fragrance so sweet that it could captivate anyone who caught a whiff of it.

The legend of the Velvet Rose was passed down through generations, whispered from one villager to the next. It was said that the rose held the power to grant a single wish, but only to those who were worthy of its gift. Many had tried to find the flower, but only a few had succeeded, and those who had found it never spoke of their wishes.

In the heart of this valley, there lived a young woman named Liora. She had heard the stories of the Velvet Rose since she was a child, and as she grew older, the tale became an obsession. Liora had lost her family in a tragic fire when she was just a girl, and ever since, she had yearned for the one thing she could never have: the chance to see them again.

One day, as the hundredth year approached, Liora decided that she would be the one to find the Velvet Rose. She packed a small satchel with provisions, kissed her friends goodbye, and set off on a journey into the valley, determined to find the legendary flower and make her wish.

The journey was not an easy one. The valley was filled with dense forests, treacherous cliffs, and rushing rivers. Yet, Liora pressed on, driven by her desire to reunite with her family. She walked for days, her heart heavy with both hope and sorrow.

On the fourth day, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Liora stumbled upon a clearing she had never seen before. In the center of the clearing stood a single rosebush, its dark green leaves shimmering in the fading light. And there, in full bloom, was the Velvet Rose. Its petals were as soft as the legends had promised, and its fragrance was intoxicating.

Liora approached the flower slowly, her heart racing. She knelt beside the rose and gazed at it in awe. For a moment, she hesitated, wondering if she was truly worthy of the rose’s gift. She had suffered so much in her life, and the thought of seeing her family again filled her with both joy and fear.

But as she reached out to touch the flower, a voice stopped her.

“Are you sure this is what you truly desire?” the voice asked.

Liora looked up to see an old woman standing at the edge of the clearing. Her hair was silver, and her eyes were kind yet knowing. She was the guardian of the Velvet Rose, a spirit who had watched over it for centuries.

“I… I want to see my family again,” Liora replied, her voice trembling. “I want to bring them back.”

The old woman nodded slowly. “The Velvet Rose can grant your wish, but it comes at a price. You must give up something of great value in return.”

Liora thought for a moment. She had already lost so much—her family, her home, her peace of mind. But she realized that what she had left was her own life, her own future. Would she be willing to sacrifice that for a chance to see her family again?

The old woman watched her silently, waiting for her decision.

Liora took a deep breath. “I am willing to pay any price.”

The old woman smiled gently. “Then your wish shall be granted.”

With a soft motion, the old woman touched the Velvet Rose, and the petals shimmered with a soft golden light. The air around Liora seemed to hold its breath as the world around her began to change.

Before her stood her family, as alive as they had been the day she lost them. Her mother smiled at her, her father reached out to embrace her, and her younger brother laughed as he ran to her side. Liora’s heart swelled with joy, and for a moment, she felt as though all her pain had melted away.

But as she stood there, surrounded by the warmth of her family, she felt a pull deep within her chest. It was as if something was slipping away from her, something that had been a part of her for as long as she could remember.

The old woman’s voice echoed in her mind. You must give up something of great value.

Liora knew what that meant. She had received her family back, but in doing so, she had to give up the one thing she had left—her own life. Her time in this world was running out, and though she had everything she had wished for, she knew she could not stay with them forever.

With tears in her eyes, Liora turned to her family. “I love you,” she whispered. “But I must go.”

Her family embraced her one last time, and with a final breath, Liora let go. The world around her faded, and the Velvet Rose, now withered and dying, stood alone in the clearing.

The old woman watched from the shadows, her eyes filled with both sadness and understanding. “The Velvet Rose grants only one wish,” she murmured. “But the price of love and loss is always steep.”

And so, the legend of the Velvet Rose continued, a reminder of the sacrifices made for love and the timeless beauty of a flower that bloomed only once every century.

The valley, once again, became silent, waiting for the next soul who would seek the rose’s gift.