30 days Flash Fiction Challenge

The Bloom of Generations

DAY 19: AN EXTINCT FLOWER BLOOMS FOR THE 1ST TIME IN 200 YEARS.
April 19th 2024

Damien was always the odd one out in his family. From their peculiar traditions to their eccentricities, the Blakely family was known throughout the small town as a bunch of peculiar characters. But there was one tradition that stood out above all others-the blooming of the rare flower.

For generations, the Blakely family had nurtured a special flower in their garden, a flower that only bloomed once every 200 years. Legend had it that Damien's great-great-great-grandmother had planted the seed, and ever since then, each generation had taken it upon themselves to document the bloom for posterity.

As Damien stood in the garden, surrounded by his family and the scent of the blooming flower, he felt a sense of awe wash over him. It was a sight to behold-the flower's petals unfurling in the sunlight, its colors vibrant and alive with the promise of new life.

But there was also a sense of sadness in Damien's heart, for he knew that this would be the last time he would ever see the flower bloom. As tradition dictated, he took out his camera and snapped a photograph, capturing the moment for future generations to cherish.

And then, with a heavy heart, he sat down at the old wooden table in the garden and began to write a letter to his great-great-great-grandchildren-a letter that would serve as a testament to the legacy of the Blakely family and the beauty of the rare flower that had graced their garden for centuries.

"My dearest descendants," Damien began, his pen scratching against the paper. "As you read these words, know that you are the inheritors of a great tradition-a tradition that has been passed down through the generations, from one Blakely to the next."

He went on to tell them about the rare flower that bloomed only once every 200 years, describing its beauty and significance in intricate detail. He told them about the love and care that had been poured into its cultivation, and the pride that each generation had felt as they watched it bloom.

But most importantly, he told them about the importance of family and tradition, and the role that they played in shaping who they were as individuals and as a family.

As Damien sealed the letter and tucked it away for safekeeping, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. Though the flower would soon fade and wither away, its memory would live on in the hearts and minds of his descendants, a reminder of the bond that united them across time and space.

And as he looked out over the garden, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun, Damien knew that he had done his part to preserve the legacy of the Blakely family for generations to come.