A Promise Under the Moonlight

That Saturday, the sky was a wash of azure, as if cleansed by water, while a gentle breeze carried the unique tenderness of early summer. I met him at the botanical garden on the other side of the city, where rumor had it the roses were in full bloom—a dual feast for the eyes and nose, much like our love, quietly blossoming in rich, captivating fragrance. Twenty minutes early, I stood at the garden’s entrance. The iron gates were tangled with tender green vines dotted with tiny flowers, my silhouette flickering in the metal’s sheen as my hair swayed in the breeze, my heart aflutter with anticipation. Lush trees inside stretched out branches, casting dappled light through the leaves to weave dreamlike patterns on the ground. Gazing at my sun-split shadow, I smiled involuntarily, my mind filled with visions of his arrival.