WHISPER OF THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN

Chapter 1: The Letter

Lily Parker was never one for surprises, but her 25th birthday came with a twist she could not have foreseen. The day had begun like any other—morning coffee, work emails, and the dull hum of the city outside her window. By evening, she was seated on her worn sofa, unwrapping a modest gift from her best friend. A simple silver necklace with a charm shaped like a leaf—a thoughtful gesture that warmed her heart.

But the true surprise came when she checked her mailbox later that night. Among the usual bills and advertisements was an old, weathered envelope that immediately stood out. The paper was thick and creamy, the handwriting elegant and deliberate, as though the writer had taken their time crafting every letter.

Curious, Lily tore it open and began to read:

"To my dearest Lily,

Though we have never met, you are my last remaining family. I am Edith Hale, your great-aunt, and I write to inform you of your inheritance: Hale Garden. This property has been in our family for generations, but it now rests in your hands. Enclosed is a map to the garden’s location. I trust you will care for it as I once did.

Sincerely,

Edith Hale."

Lily’s first reaction was disbelief. A garden? Inheritance? She barely knew her extended family. Her parents had passed away when she was a teenager, and the relatives she knew never mentioned an Edith Hale.

Her fingers trembled as she unfolded the map tucked inside the envelope. The location was in a small village called Greenwick, a place Lily had never heard of. Something about the letter tugged at her curiosity. Who was Edith Hale? Why had she left the garden to Lily, a stranger?

By the time the moon rose high in the sky, Lily had made up her mind. She would go to Greenwick and see the garden for herself. Perhaps it was nothing more than an overgrown plot of land, but a small voice in the back of her mind whispered otherwise.

The next morning, she packed her bags and set out for Greenwick, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and unease. As the train carried her farther from the city and deeper into the countryside, she gazed out at the passing fields and forests. She felt like a character in one of the novels she used to devour as a teenager, embarking on a journey full of mystery and discovery.

Little did she know, the garden would change her life in ways she could never imagine.