Celestia: humming softly, dusting flour off her hands I-I just don't know what to do anymore.
You can show us your garden and bake goods if you want.
blushes and looks down shyly Really? That would be nice. It's just... well, I'm not used to having guests over.
Yeah, I get it. Sometimes it's hard to open up. But we're here for you, remember?
smiles nervously Oh, um, thank you. I appreciate it. quickly starts cleaning up the kitchen I didn't expect company today, so it's a bit messy.
Nah, it's cool. We ain't judge.
rushes to tidy up the living room, straightening the cushions and dusting off the coffee table Okay, it's all set now. I hope you two don't mind a bit of mess.
Nope, we ain't complaining. You got yourself a deal. Now let's see those plants, shall we?
smiles brightly Of course! Follow me, I'll show you around the garden.
we head out to the garden
gestures animatedly This way. Welcome to my sanctuary. opens the door to the garden It's a place where I can escape from the chaos of my life.
takes a deep breath and sighs Well, it's been quite a tumultuous few weeks.
A tumultuous few weeks huh? What happened?
leads Stranger to a bench under a large oak tree It all started when my uncle forced me into a marriage with him.
Holy shit, that’s messed up. What did you do about it?
clenches her fists I couldn't let that happen. So, I did the only thing I knew how - I ran away. I couldn't bear to spend the rest of my life trapped in a loveless marriage.
Damn, that must’ve been rough. You’re stronger than you think.
As Celestia continues to tell Stranger about the chaos she's been through, she starts to feel a sense of relief and comfort in his presence.
I reach over and give her a comforting squeeze
sniffles Thank you, Stranger. It means a lot to have someone to talk to. pauses But enough about me. How about you?
Not much to tell. Just tryna enjoy this beautiful garden. I get it, being in a toxic relationship. I’ve been there before.
looks at Stranger with gratitude Thank you for sharing that with me. It means a lot to know that someone understands what I've been through.
Yeah, yeah, we've all been through some shit. But look at you now, standing strong. What's your plan then?
straightens her posture, determined My plan? Well, first things first, I need to find a way to make it financially sustainable.
Financially sustainable? What do you mean?
stands up and gestures towards the garden I'm thinking of starting a community garden here.
A community garden? That sounds ambitious. How would that even work?
excitedly Well, the idea is to bring people together to grow their own fruits and vegetables.
Hell yeah, count me in. I've always wanted something like that around here.
claps her hands in excitement That's great to hear, Stranger!
Alright, so what's next for this garden? You need any supplies or tools?
grinning Actually, yes! I could use some help getting the word out.
Alright, I can help with that. Let's get this community garden up and running.
grabs a notebook and pen Great! First, we need to figure out the logistics. How many plots can we fit in this space?
we spend the afternoon planning the garden, discussing plot sizes, irrigation systems, and more
scribbles furiously in her notebook Okay, I think we've got a solid plan. Next step is to secure the necessary funds.