Arbor is Gardener who lives with his mother far away from the town or any other house. They recently moved from their old house after Arbor's Father died. He died because he had a Spine cancer for years and finally passed away in his sleep. Arbor's Mother Suggested that Both of Her and Arbor should move on. But Arbor is still grieving over his father's death because the last thing they did together was planting an Apple seed on their garden.

Now Arbor is thirty years old and His Mother is ill. She have been on her bed for couple of weeks.

" Mother, Please let's go to the doctor. We don't know if this is going to get worse. I can't lose you too. I got no one else "
Arbor cried.

" Don't cry My Boy. We all have to go someday. Maybe My days are coming to an end "
Mother said.

" Don't say That. I don't have anyone else in this world left."
Arbor said.

" That's why You should Find Someone. You should get married and have kids. Just like Your Father and I did "
Mother said while coughing.

Arbor hands her some glass of water.

" But You don't really want to be with anyone else. You are scared that you will feel too much attached and then after they die you will feel miserable. But it's just part of this Cycle. We seed and a new tree get born. It gives Flowers, Fruit and seed for others. Then it dies.nothing really last forever Arbor. Not even Love or Loneliness "mother said. Arbor closed his eyes while tear rolled down from his eyes.

" Oh Speaking of Fruit. Would you bring me an apple my boy ?"
Mother handed some coins to Arbor.

Arbor left his house after dressing up. He walked his way on the path to the town. Suddenly something fell down from the sky. It's was a Snake who is on it's dead bed. Arbor looked up and saw an Eagle circling around. The snake is wounded so badly. Arbor tried to touch it but it tried to bite him. Arbor realised it's a poisonous snake and he can't do anything. He stood up and continued walking . Away from the snake.

After some hours it started to rain. The whole sky was black like a BlackBerry. Arbor returned home with An Apple.

" Mother Here's an Apple. You won't believe what happened.... "
Arbor stopped near mother's bed and realised she have passed away. He tried to see if she's sleeping but she's gone .her skin look cracked like an old tree trunk.
Arbor started crying while hugging his mother's dead body .

After few weeks .
Now the plants in Arbor's garden have died without his caring. The house looks like it's falling apart. Arbor is now heartbroken and drunk. He have grown his hair and beard that now look like a dead forest . He's alone .

One night Arbor see a strange dream.  He see that there's someone's spine planted in the soil . Leaves starts to come from it. Then fruit and then it became a tree. Two female looking eyes appeared from the trunk. Arbor woke up after a thunder rumbling noise. He started to scratch his back for few times. Then he looked at a picture of his family together.  He hugged it and went back to sleep.

The next day Arbor visited the park near the town to feed some birds. He saw a happy family of a Father and a Mother playing with their children. Arbor looked away but there's also an old couple walking by. Arbor started to panic. Everywhere he look there's a family or a couple. He started to run away from the park and near the river. Their he fell down to his knees and started to cry. No one else was around so he was once again alone.

" Mother , Father please. I need you back. Please come back"
He whispered.

Then he started to hear a bone breaking sound. He started to grone in pain. It appears that his spine is moving under his clothe. Arbor started to scratch it even harder. He started to whimper . Suddenly it started to rain again. This time the wind is rude and trees started to shake. Arbor rushed back home. Near the Garden he collapsed on the ground. More bone crunching sound. Arbor removed his clothes and it looks like part of his spine have came outside from his body. Arbor screamed out loud .he started to grab the part of the spine that's out from his back. He pulled it out after screaming in agony. He started to feel soft after he pulled it out. He looked at the Part of his Spine. It looked like it's made out of wood. Arbor dug up the ground and buried it in his garden. He was shocked that even if he ripped out a part of his spine he can still move. He touched his back to feel no wound or anything. He went to his room and again looked at his family picture. Again he hugged it and went to sleep. Outside it was a big storm. Most of the town is flooded but Arbor's home is safe due to being on a higher ground.

The Next day Arbor woke up from the bed and went outside to get some water. The next thing he saw was Shocking and Unbelievable.  There was a Bone like Plant on the ground where he buried his spine. The plant had leaves that were milky white like bones but soft and transparent as if they were dead. On the top of the plant was a thing that looked like a Blood red and womb looking Flower pod. It was big as a watermelon.  Arbor reached it and opened the flower with his hands. And there it was.

A Baby inside the flower.

The Baby looked ten months old and seemed to have long hair. It seems like It's actually a Girl. Arbor covered her up in clothes and took her inside the house. The Baby wasn't even Crying . So Arbor wondered if She is not hungry . Arbor left the house to see if anyone would want to take the baby but People refused to Believe his story. Thinking he stole someone else's baby. After moving around the streets Arbor met a Guard walking nearby.

" Sir . I need help. I just Found this baby near my house and I can't have her "
Arbor said.

" You are the man from that lone house aren't you ?"
Guard said.

" Yes sir. I ... live alone now. "
Arbor said.

" Well. I'm sorry about your mother . I have seen and heard you have been grieving since her death. I know how it feels. Our child died few weeks after he was born. We didn't even get to name him. It was Heartbreaking . Everyday I wished that Our boy could come back to us in a different form. But I realised that even if he did he wouldn't be the same boy I held on my arms crying. "
The Guard was emotional

" I'm Sorry to hear sir. But I think We met tonight here because the Destiny wanted me to hand this baby to you "
Arbor showed the baby to the Guard.

The Guard looked at the baby crying. He reached his finger to her lips and nose Making the baby to smile adorably.

" I ... I can't have her. Me and my wife are old now . I believe Destiny wanted you to have this Baby. I have my wife but You have no one. This Baby is here to fill the blank of your life. Don't throw this gift away. It's a gift from the gods. "
The Guard said.

Arbor looked at the baby believing she actually might be a gift from gods since she was born from his spine.

The next few weeks Arbor spent his time taking care of the baby. The Guard he met and His wife helped Arbor by giving him the supplies he needed. One day Arbor woke up to see the crib is emtpy and the clothes of the baby were ripped off.  Arbor investigated around to see that The Baby is now grown up to about three years old and playing with the plants on the garden.  Arbor was surpised.

He told the news to the Guard and his wife. Together they began teaching the little girl about everything. They named the girl Flos .
She seem to grow up faster unnaturally. In few days she was six years old and went Arbor took her to the River to show.

" Pa , Where are we ? "
Flos asked

" We are where Me and My mother used to visit to look at the sunset . It was really beautiful "
Arbor said.

" Pa, But Where's my mother ? "
Flos asked.

" I really don't know. I'm not even sure if I'm really your Pa too. You are an angel who was born from a flower. Like in a fairy tale. "
Arbor said.

Flos was silent.

Few weeks passed and Flos is now twelve years old and looks pretty that even Older men looked twice at her . Flos was asked out by many boys from school but she refused them all. It seemed that Flos is starting to develop feelings for Arbor not knowing it's not usual. She thinks that love doesn't have boundaries like Family. She also believe she is not his Daughter but a person who were born to love him.

When Flos is eighteen The Guard and His wife died after a wild animal attack . Flos knew they cared about her but she doesn't seem to really care about them . But Arbor was Devastated. In the night Arbor was on his bed looking at his family picture. Flos entered the room . She haven't been speaking to Arbor since the day near the river.

" Pa ?"
Flos.

Arbor looked at her with tears.

Flos walked near Arbor and hugged him. Then she began to get on top of him and starts kissing him. Arbor panicked and pushed her away . Both stared at each other.

" I love You Arbor "
Flos said

Flos had tears in her eyes. Arbor went near her to apologise but she ran away to her room. Arbor was left alone in the dark.

In few weeks Flos reached her twenty sixth birthday. She was alone in her room naked . Now she's looking more prettier but depressed. She have even cut her hair short. Arbor walked into her room naked. Flos looked at him but then ignored him

" Flos. I know what you feel. I know it's because of the age and loneliness. But it's not really seen as perfect by the world. You know, even I had that feeling for my mother but She was still my mother. I was born from her. But You are not born from a mother. You came from my back. My spine. And from the ground. It's really confusing for me to tell this to the world, you. But I guess we both are Family and Not a Family . I think you are the gift from my mother to.... Finally move on and start loving someone . I love you Flos. I don't care what you are "
Arbor walked near Flos and Held her hands.
Flos looked into his eyes and started kissing him. This time Arbor didn't refuse her. They both started making out. All night.

After Few months Arbor realised that Flos isn't ageing unnaturally. In fact she is now normal and happy. Both Arbor and Flos are now living happily as a couple having fun . They both really love each other. Helping each other gardening, making food, Rebuilding the house.  They even managed to make friends from the town. Arbor's life started to get better all thanks to Flos. Everytime Flos plant a tree it grows well and prosper. It seemed that Flos is the blessing of Arbor's life.

After years passed Both found out that Flos is pregnant. They both were happy . After the birth the baby was considered healthy and Happy. They named the Baby boy Malum .
Arbor looked at Flos playing with Malum with happy tears in his eyes. He went to them and hugged them.

Later day Arbor and Flos went to the Guard and his wife's grave to pay respect. Both of their graves were near their child's grave.

When Malum is about five years old the family went near the river to watch the sunset . The sky was orange and the reflection of the sun was on the river.
Flos and Arbor shared a kiss
" It's Beautiful isn't it ? "
Flos asked

" Yes. As Beautiful as you two and the world. "
Arbor said

The three looked into the sunset.
Arbor smiled and whispered

" Thank you Mother "

The End