finaldraft

You can't change the past. That time has passed. Everything that existed then is no more. All you can do is look back and remember, or change for the [[future|title]].

(if: $beenToBookChest is 5 and $beentoLate is 5 and $beentoIris is 5 and $beentoRegret is 5 and $beentoMeaning is 5)[You look around your room. It's filled with many things, but you heed it all no mind. Your attention is drawn to the [[flowers you brought in]].] (else:) [You look around [[your room]]. You have vases on the nightstands next to both sides of your bed. They're both filled with the same [[wilted flower]]. On your dresser lies an [[empty flowerpot]]. Usually it'd be filled with some flower or another, but right now it just sits there. It's not the most beautiful to look at in and of itself, sporting nothing more than a plain reddish-brown. In the corner of your room is your easel. Looking at the [[canvas]], you see some flower is drawn on it. You can't see it very well from your angle. Pretty much everything in your room is flower themed in some way, actually. Of course, you know the [[reason]]... Your glance shifts towards the bookshelf as you think this.]

You decide to approach the wilted flowers. You had given them fresh water, but it wasn't enough to keep them alive. A flower uprooted from the ground is pretty much already dead; the best you can hope for is to prolong their life the tiniest bit, so you can see their beauty a little longer. ...you should probably [[get rid]] of the dead flowers, but you could also save that [[for later|future]].

You don't remember what the last flower was that you had put there. You suppose you must've been too busy to replace it, but it could've just been laziness, too. Thinking back over the past few days, it all just felt like a blur. You probably should [[find new seeds]] to fill in the empty pot, but you could also just continue to [[be lazy|future]] and leave it empty for now.

You approach the easel to get a better look at what you had left there. Since you paint everyday, both at home and at school, it can be hard to remember what you had been working on, especially after you've taken breaks. These happen pretty often, since creative work requires inspiration. You look, but it turns out to be a mostly blank canvas. There's the start of a flower painted near the top of it, but it's clearly not finished. You could [[finish the painting]] now, but you're not sure you have inspiration. Maybe you should [[do that later|future]].

...you approach your bookshelf, lined up next to your dresser. While it's mostly filled with purposeless books collected throughout the years that have gone unread, there's one sticking out with wrinkly sheets. You know this book very well. After all, it's not something you had to read. It was rather a journal, one that you had [[helped fill in]]. You thought about perhaps [[opening it up]], or maybe [[wandering around the room|future]] some more.

As you grabbed the flowers out of their vases, you were able to see which they were. They were hardly recognizable anymore, shrivled up dry. Despite this, you could see that they had once been anemones. The meaning of the flower came to mind as you looked at them. *Anemone: a flower symbolizing feeling [[forsaken]].*

A flowerpot with no flowers is just too lonely. Indeed, you chose a plain design in order to highlight the beauty of the flowers it would contain, yet it sat empty. Opening the bottom drawer, you were met with a variety of seeds to choose from, alongside some other flower-care related equipment. You could easily see [[blue iris]] seeds available.

You opened the journal to a random page. That page, like all the others, contained a dried flower pressed into the book. Next to the flower, it had the flower's meaning in flower language written. On the particular page you had opened it up to, it contained the zinnia flower. *Zinnia: a flower symbolizing the [[remembrance of friends who are gone]].*

You didn't do this alone, though. (mouseover: "You didn't do this alone, though.")[(goto: "reason")]

You decided to work on the painting now. You review your previous work to remind yourself of what you were going for with this piece. It was easily recognizable to you as a painting of a purple hyacinth. *Purple hyacinth: a flower symbolizing [[sorrow and regret]].*

(text-color:"gray")[*"What's that you have under your arm?" "How observant! What I brought is none other than my sketchbook! I thought I could use the flowers in your garden as inspiration for art." "You sound so proud of yourself, it's hilarious." "H-hilarious? But I'm being serious..!" "I'm just teasing! Can I see some of your old art?" "...sure." "...why have you not bragged about your art skills until now? This is all [[amazing]]!"*]

(text-color:"gray")[*"Do you know what's coming soon?" "What's coming soon? That's much too broad a question! There's no way to guess what you mean with only that." "Oh, come on. It's not that hard to give a random guess!" "I won't! Just tell me!" "Sighhhh... fine. [I will.]<progress|"*] (click: ?progress)+(text-color:"gray")[*"[[Spring is coming.]]"*]

(text-color:"gray")[*"Say... Will you remember me, even after we're apart?" "Apart? No, we'll always be together! How could you ask that?!" "...can you please answer the [[question]]?"*]

(text-color:"gray")[*"Of course I'd never forget my [[best friend]]."*]

That's right. The reason you obsessed over flowers, covering your room with them, dedicating even your art to them... It was because of [[them]].

Your childhood best friend had the largest garden you had ever seen in person. It was their passion to grow flowers, and to learn their meanings as well. Each flower they grew they'd document in this journal. They left you alone. All you had to remember them was the book in your [[hands]].

(text-color:"gray")[*"Will you remember me, even after we're apart?"*] This was such a foolish question of them to ask. Of course you'd remember them. They had been your best friend; this fact would never change. Thinking this, [[you hugged the book to your chest]].

<h3>Ending: Zinnia</h3> <img src = "https://www.gardendesign.com/pictures/images/900x705Max/dream-team-s-portland-garden_6/zinnia-flowers-mixed-flowers-shutterstock-com_12811.jpg" width = "700" height = "500"> [[Yet, you still have to take care of the flowers.|future]] (set: $beenToBookChest to 5)

(text-color:"gray")[*"...[really?]<question|"* (click: ?question)[*"[[Really.]]"*]]

(text-color:"gray")[*"...thanks." "You know what? I think I'll allow you to draw my flowers!" "I hadn't asked for your [[permission]]!"*]

That person had always loved your art, but there was no longer anyone beside you who teased you, who supported you... Your eyes teared up looking at the purple hyacinths painted in front of you. Memories tended to get you emotional, but at this point you weren't sure whether to [[go through with]] the painting or [[trash it]].

You wiped at your tears. You couldn't paint if you couldn't see. There had been times when the two of you would fight. There had been times when the two of you had been happy. Now, there was nothing. However, you'd never regret having known them. Your brush moved smoothly across the canvas, and you remembered [[another meaning]] for purple hyacinths.

You couldn't stand to face your painting anymore. Picking up the canvas, you smashed it across a table lying in your room, breaking the canvas in half. If they weren't going to be here anymore, you didn't want to remember them. You didn't want to think about them. With the pain it caused, you almost [[regret having ever met them]].

<h3>Ending: Purple Hyacinths of Forgiveness</h3> <img src = "https://www.flowermeaning.com/flower-pics/Hyacinth-Meaning.jpg"> [[The painting may be complete, but the rest of the flowers are yet imperfect.|future]] (set: $beentoMeaning to 5)

<h3>Ending: Purple Hyacinths of Regret</h3> <img src = "https://www.flowermeaning.com/flower-pics/Hyacinth-Meaning.jpg"> [[Even if you deny it with your heart, the flowers remain.|future]] (set: $beentoRegret to 5)

You decided to plant the blue iris seeds. For a new sprouting plant, you felt the meaning of the flowers to be rather fitting. *Blue iris: a flower symbolizing [[hope]].*

(text-color:"gray")[*"Have you ever grown a plant from scratch before?" "From scratch? You mean from when they're seeds?" "Yes. From when they're nothing but tiny seeds... It's a lot of work. You have to take care of them just right, or they might turn out poorly, or not make it at all." "Huh, that's probably right. Never really thought about it, so I guess my answer to your first question would be 'no'." "Hmph. Well, you're missing out." "Missing out? But I thought you just said it was hard!" "No, it is hard, [[but...]]"*]

(text-color:"gray")[*"I just think it's the most wonderful thing, to see something struggle but grow to be big and strong. A seed is just a 'beginning'. Beginnings can be scary, but it also means you have your whole future ahead of you. A time filled with fear and hope... Is really, truly the most [[wonderful thing]]."*]

You patted down the dirt as you finished up potting the flower. The experience was nostalogic, and you felt a smile sneak up onto your face at the thought. You couldn't remember what flower had been there before. This had made you a little sad, but the changing of flowers marked a new beginning. [[You couldn't wait to see it]].

<h3>Ending: Blue Iris</h3> <img src = "https://www.gardenia.net/storage/app/public/plant_family/detail/7IXSLl4EU0xHbLk4jbqfj75Y4UfqmbLWDKyuVQq4.jpeg" height="500" width="700"> [[There is still more you must take care of.|future]] (set: $beentoIris to 5)

(text-color:"gray")[*"What happened to all my flowers?!" "Um... well..." "I asked you to look over them while I was away for the week. Did you even water these once?" "..." "Answer me!" "[[...no.]]"*]

(text-color:"gray")[*"...I can't believe you..." "I'm sorry, I-" "I can't BELIEVE you! Flowers are a living thing, you know?! You can't just abandon them! You let them die! They were beautiful, and you just [[let them die!]]"*]

You were never the best at taking care of flowers, really. While these flowers were destined to die as soon as you cut them from their roots, you had accidentally killed flowers that could've lived much longer before, too. You abandoned those flowers. You hurt them, just like you [[hurt that person...]]

...you threw the shrivled anemones in the trash. You couldn't get them back, and you couldn't get back that person. [[It was all too late.]]

<h3>Ending: Anemone</h3> <img src = "https://www.homestratosphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/anemone-flowers-june272018.jpg" width = "700" height = "500"> [[Even so, there are things needing to be done.|future]] (set: $beentoLate to 5)

<h1>[[Flower Language|future]]</h2> <img src = "https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/flowers-1-1024x768.jpg" width = "700" height = "500">

In front of you was a bouquet of flowers. Each had their own meaning, so together there wasn't one clear message coming across. In some ways, this was the [[most natural]] form it should come in.

(text-color:"gray")[*"You sure do love studying flower language, don't you..." "Mm? Yes, I do... But where did that come from?" "Well... isn't that kind of a weird hobby?" "Huh?! You're judging me now?!" "Ah... no, no, I meant... why do you [[care]] so much about this?"*]

(text-color:"gray")[*"Why? Because they're [beautiful]<beauty|.*" (click: ?beauty)[*Both the flowers and their meanings... are absolutely [[beautiful]]."*]]

(text-color:"gray")[*"They're even more beautiful when you put them together in a big garden. Putting together all of their various colors and meanings like that... it's like a reflection of life itself. My life isn't very exciting... I usually just stay at home. I don't have many choices on what I can do to spend my time... I mostly just read books and tend to my garden. However, those two things make my life feel full, even if it's through [[pretending]]."*]

Your best friend was always sick, and had to stay home for their own safety. They were homeschooled, and spent most of their time alone. You only ever even got to meet them because you were direct neighbors, and you could see them work on their garden without even having to leave the house. You were their only [[true friend]]...

(text-color:"gray")[*"So, even if it's pretending, I'm able to learn what life is like. Life is happy at times, sad at other times... It can be so painful you don't want to do anything but curl up and cry, or it can be so gentle that you'd be content to just stare out at the sky for hours... The variety of meaning in the flowers reflect this... the [[complexity of life]]."*]

(text-color:"gray")[*"Hey... aren't you forgetting something?" "I am?" "Yes, you are." "What am I forgetting, then?" "You spoke like you have nothing but books and flowers, but that's not true. [[You have me, too]]."*]

...they, too, were your [[only true friend]].

You looked over the bouquet you had in your hands again. They represented happiness, and sadness... Hope, yet also despair... They represented [[life in its entirety]].

Your friend was gone. A flower that's completely dried out cannot be revived. You couldn't take that back or change it. But as you looked at the bouquet, you couldn't help but smile. You were sure they'd love their [[gift]].

<h3>True Ending: Gift</h3> <img src = "https://assets.eflorist.com/assets/products/PHR_/T282-9A.jpg">

This wasn't your original room. This wasn't even your house. You had moved in with your grandparents the year before. It's not like your parents were gone, or that you'd stay here forever, but rather... There's no way you could keep living there, where you could see that nostalgic garden from your window. It'd be awhile before you could handle seeing that view again. Anyways, you had more important matters than getting distracted in your thoughts. You had just come home from school, so you should [[do something|future]].

(text-color:"gray")[*"Spring? What's significant about that?" "Certain annual flowers blooming, of course! While it'll be a little while for these still, I'm especially excited to see the zinnias bloom." "Zinnias?" "Yes! They're rather easy to grow, but are oh-so beautiful. And they have a beautiful meaning, too... Remembering friends who are [[gone]]."*]