The man who was afraid of Love

Once upon a time, in a village near the forest, was living a man, very dark hair and with a deep regard.

He was living alone in a wooden house. He was making everything with his bare hands.

Every day he was walking up before the sun rise and he went deep into the forest, he was picking the most high tree and start working from day to night. All the furniture even the plate, the spoon and the fork was made by wood.

The man did not have a lot of friends, or neighbors, and the closest home was miles and miles away. He never married and he spent of his life working the wood. His work makes him famous in the near village and they come to him and ask him to repair everything it was broken. And the man gave all his time and attention to the wood and it was like they understand each other, the wood was taken life and become a beautiful table, a beautiful chair, a very nice door.

People they were start to come from a big city and asking for more furniture and other decorations.

One day he was preparing a wooden chair, and he was out in the open air, when suddenly a rare perfume comes to him. He looked around but nobody was with him. So, the man continue to work the chair and try to give a nice shape and wanted to put also some beautiful colors..

Again the perfume makes him turn his head and then he noticed down to the earth, a very beautiful strange flower with several colors…

“I do not remember see this flower before” he said.

“No, you don’t. Because I was a seed and some days ago a sparrow bring him here from a foreign country. But as the sparrow got tired from the long journey, he hide me in the earth, and he thought that he can come and eat me later…. But he forgot. I am a seed and if u burry me I will grow up and become a… “

“A beautiful flower that smells so nice” he said the carpenter.

“Yes, but I smell like that, only if I am happy..

Some minutes ago an ant passed and we spoke about the news. He gave me news about my other family, so I am happy.”

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The perfume was exceptional. It was like the perfume of the orange flowers and some of ylang ylang. The man had never thought he could spoke with a flower.

“I must finish my chair I have a lot do. I must finish before night come.” said the carpenter and start again to work on the chair.

“Why are you so hurrying to finish your chair? I see nobody else here with you. Do you have family, a wife or children?” Asked the flower

“No, I am alone and I am very busy. So do not ask me silly questions, I must work because I have a chair to deliver….”

“How is possible to work in such a beautiful day, look up the sky is so blue, look the forest and the trees, such a beautiful picture.” said the flower, and continued ” I need some fresh water and if you have some more grass, you can bring it, close to me, so I will have company. “

The carpenter start to scratch his head and then he said,” for such a small thing, u have many requests. I tell you that I am busy. I have to finish my work, at must deliver the chair to my client. “

So the man started to work on his wooden chair and did not listen to the complaints of the flower, that it suddenly became more and more curious.

“Have you ever loved someone?” Asked the flower.

“What? What kind of silly question is that?” Asked the carpenter really angry

“I will respond to this for you. You never loved anyone or anything or I think, you don’t even love yourself… “, said the flower and turn his petals to the sun

“I feel much better, but I really need some water…” repeat again the flower

“Ohh OK. I will go to bring you some water.”

The man left and went to the house, he took a big vase and he put some water. Then he went out and he threw the water to the flower.

“Ohhhh you almost destroy my little petals. I tell you, you really never love anything or anyone. You just threw the water, with all your forces. You must be gentle with my petals.

“You care a rose around the sand …”

The flower explained for hours the way the carpenter must give him water, and that he must time to time change and put some soil, and ask the carpenter, if he can find some other seeds, and put them close to him, so he will not feel alone.

Then carpenter had a better idea, to take a big pottery, he put some soil inside and he suggested to his friend the flower to plant it in there so he will not be alone anymore.

They will be together as the carpenter; he was strong enough to carry out, the pottery with his friend, even when he went to the big city for buying new tools.

After months have passed the carpenter was so attached to his flower that he started to read books about gardening and every day tried to make his friend happier.

He bought a new pottery and he placed it near the window so his flower could have a sun bath all day. When he went to the forest for cutting woods for his work, he had created a small wooden car and he put there the pottery, so they were always together.

They spoke a lot about everyday life and sometimes for the future. But the flower always said that, we must show our love now, not in future”.

Today is so important for us the flowers, from the first sunshine will catch us, we must take as much light we can, and drink water, and have someone to care for us, as we are so fragile. The flower was growing up and become so beautiful. And his perfume also becomes so popular, and when neighbors visited the carpenter, they will ask for the name of this flower, so they can also find the seeds and plant to their garden.

The carpenter told to his neighbors, “My flower is very rare and I do not know if you will find the same seeds. I named my flower “Love”. But as this flower has a deep impact on my life, I give him this name. Because he help me understand that today is more important than the future.

And love is a free energy and more we give away, more is coming back to us. “

The carpenter and the flower stay friends for a long time. And the carpenter always left some hours free after his work, for gardening as he get so many secrets from his friend, that he could grow any strange seed and make it a strong tree.

His garden was very famous and people come from all over the country.

And when someone ask him about secret of this beautiful garden, the carpenter respond, with a smile:

“Love, is the secret.”

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Eva Petropoulou-Lianou was born in Xylokastro, Greece. In 1994 she worked as a journalist for the French newspaper “Le Libre Journal” but her love for Greece won her over and she returned in 2002. She has published books and eBooks: “Me and my other self, my shadow”, “Geraldine and the Lake elf” in English – French, as well as “The Daughter of the Moon”, in the 4th edition, in Greek – English. Her work has been included in the Greek Encyclopedia Haris Patsis. Her books have been approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, for the Student and Teacher library. Her new books, “The Fairy of the Amazon Myrtia “dedicated to Myrto with a disability, and Lefkadios Hearn, Myths and Stories of the Far East, illustrated by Sumi-e painter Dina Anastasiadou, were released in 2019. She recently published her book “The Adventures of Samurai Nogas san” in English by the publishing house OntimeBooks, based in England. She collaborates with the electronic literary magazine ‘The poet magazine’. She partners International Literary Union based in America; collaborates for the promotion of literature and promotes the work of Greek poets. Eva is a member of the “Association Alia Mundi Serbia”, the “International Society of Writers and Artists of Greece” and the “Piraeus Society of Letters and Arts” as well as the Corinthian Writers Society. She is President of Greece Association Mille Minds of Mexico; International Ambassador of e _magazine Namaste India; Advisor and Editor in chief Web Magazine Hubei China; Advisor Member of editorial board Las Olas del Arte Magazine Belgium, and Editor in chief Prodigy magazine USA.