These roses will keep blooming

In a small village nestled between rolling hills, there was a garden unlike any other. It belonged to an old woman named Eliza, who had tended it for decades. The centerpiece of her garden was a bush of red roses, vibrant and velvety, which bloomed year-round, even in winter’s chill.

The villagers whispered that the roses were enchanted, a gift from Eliza's late husband, Jacob. Years ago, when Jacob was gravely ill, he had planted the rose bush, telling Eliza, "These roses will keep blooming as long as my love for you lasts." He passed away that same winter, but the roses never withered.

One evening, a traveler passed through the village, drawn to the unusual beauty of Eliza's garden. He knocked on her door, asking about the roses. Eliza smiled softly and told him the story. Touched, the traveler asked if he could take one to remember the tale of undying love.

Eliza hesitated but then handed him a single red rose. "Take it, but remember—this rose will only remain beautiful if you tend to it with care and love."

The traveler left, cherishing the gift. But as days passed and the road grew long, he forgot the rose, and it soon wilted. Back in the village, Eliza's roses continued to bloom, their crimson petals a reminder that true love, when nurtured, never fades, even through the harshest winters of life.