A melesare flower will bloom only once in sixty years. I planted this bush when Wynn and I first moved into this cabin all those years ago. I planted them for her, something I hoped would remind her of me long after I was gone. I didn’t think I would live long enough to see it bloom myself.

Melesare flowers were part of an ancient elven ritual, men would give a melesare flower to a woman they loved by trying to place it in her hair. If she accepted the flower, the two would be married. I had to learn a lot of elven customs after I met Wynn.

“After all these years! I’ve never seen an actual melesare flower before!” Sasha said.

'With a little luck, you might be seeing one again soon', I thought to myself. I looked over at Mae and she gave me a wink, thinking exactly as I did.

I gave both the girls a hug and sent them on their way. They tried to protest, but I knew they were busy and couldn’t stay long, besides, I told them I was about to leave and visit their mother, and that I’d like to be alone this time.

It was hard to walk up the path to the little clearing these days. My hips burn in pain as they were put under the stress of simple walking. The cane helped, but made it difficult to hold the melesare flower I had plucked. Such a delicate thing, and so easy to crush, but I made it there with the flower in pristine condition.

In the center of the clearing was an oak tree, almost fifty years old at this point. I made my way to the tree and I placed the melesara flower in its leaves, just as I had put one in Wynn’s hair all those years ago.

I slid down and rested my back against the tree, feeling a warm comfort that I only felt here. Wynn had been brave and courageous back in our adventuring days. I know it’s wrong, but when I think back on all the lives that she saved when she sacrificed herself, I can’t help but feel cheated.

Some people can come back from the dead, and some can’t. Wynn couldn’t be brought back, no matter how much I spent or what magic I tried. So I put her to rest here, at the home we made. From her grave sprouted this tree, and I’ve cared for it ever since.

I leaned back and closed my eyes, daydreaming, as I often did here. I don’t know if there is anything after life. Those we bring back say they can’t remember anything after death. But the fact that they return must mean they go somewhere.

Maybe I will see her again some day, or maybe this life is all we get. I don’t know the answer. All I know is that I promised not to leave her alone.