Behind the school, Lucía pushed thick green vines apart. There — a tiny wooden door with a silver handle.
She turned the handle. It clicked warm against her palm. A soft golden light spilled out from inside.
Lucía stepped inside. Flowers glowed like tiny lanterns and hummed a sleepy lullaby. Wild strawberries filled the air.
A boy popped up behind a sunflower. 'Want to follow this?' He held out a bluebell that rang like a little bell.
They followed the ringing bluebell through paths lined with whispering ivy. Every flower shone brighter than the last.
Lucía reached for a glowing purple bloom, but it tucked its petals tight and hid. She frowned.
Mateo shook his head and pointed to some dandelions. Then he handed Lucía a thimble of rainwater.
Lucía poured the water over the purple flower. Slowly, it unfurled and lit up the whole clearing.
The clearing blazed with color. Every flower now shining brighter than before, painting the night in rainbow light.
Lucía sat on a mossy log beside Mateo. Fireflies drifted down around them like falling stars.
Mateo leaned his shoulder against hers. Together they watched the garden pulse in colors no one had ever seen.
The secret garden hummed its sleepy lullaby. And Lucía knew she would come back again.
