A Surprise Return and a Mysterious Ovoid
FROM A DISTANT BUSINESS TRIP, HAVING CONCLUDED MY AFFAIRS SOONER THAN ANTICIPATED, I SECURED AN UNEXPECTED FLIGHT BACK TO BEN, MY HUSBAND. I PICTURED HIS FACE ILLUMINATING UPON MY ENTRANCE. RECENTLY, “US” TIME HAD BEEN SCARCE, AND I DESIRED TO ELEVATE THIS OCCASION.
THE RESIDENCE WAS SERENE, PRECISELY AS I HAD FORESEEN. PRESUMING BEN WAS WITHIN HIS STUDY, I VENTURED INTO THE REAR YARD – AT WHICH POINT I PETRIFIED. ADJACENT TO THE GARDEN STOOD BEN, AGITATEDLY EXCAVATING EARTH WITH A SHOVEL. AND BEFORE HIM RESTED AN IMMENSE, EBONY OVOID.
IT DEFIED ANY PRIOR ENCOUNTER – COLOSSAL, LUSTROUS, AND INK-BLACK, REMINISCENT OF AN ELEMENT FROM A FANTASY CINEMATIC PRODUCTION. A LAUGH ALMOST ESCAPED ME, CONSIDERING IT A PRACTICAL JOKE, YET BEN’S FACIAL EXPRESSION HALTED ME. HIS LIMBS TREMBLED, AND HE CAST AN ANXIOUS GAZE AROUND.
“Ben?” I INQUIRED GENTLY. HE STIFFENED, THEN ROTATED TOWARDS ME, HIS DEMEANOR RADIATING ALARM. “WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE HERE?!” HE DEMANDED, HIS VOCALIZATION SHAKING AND ELEVATED.
“MY INTENTION WAS TO SURPRISE YOU. WHAT TRANSPIRES? WHAT IS… THAT OBJECT?”
“IT IS OF NO CONSEQUENCE!” HE UTTERED SWIFTLY, AVERTING HIS VISAGE.
“BEN, I DO NOT PERCEIVE THAT AS ‘OF NO CONSEQUENCE.’ WHAT IS ITS NATURE? AND WHY WAS I EXCLUDED FROM THIS ACTIVITY?”
HIS FACIAL EXPRESSION FALTERED. “BELIEVE IN ME. I AM MERELY EXECUTING A NECESSITY.”
HOWEVER, MY INSTINCTS SIGNALLED IMPENDING TROUBLE. THE SUBSEQUENT DAY, UPON BEN’S DEPARTURE FOR HIS PROFESSION, I COULD NOT RESIST – I WAS COMPELLED TO UNEARTH THAT ENTITY!Driven by an urgency I couldn’t rationalize, I waited until Ben’s car departed, the sound fading into the morning quiet. Then, armed with a trowel and a surge of nervous energy, I returned to the backyard.
The earth Ben had disturbed was loose, readily yielding to my trowel. The sheer size of the object was daunting, but curiosity propelled me forward. Dirt flew as I dug, the hole widening, revealing more of the ebony surface. It was smoother than any stone, cool to the touch even under the morning sun.
After an hour of strenuous digging, I had cleared enough earth to expose a significant portion of the object. It wasn’t a solid oval as I initially thought. It was segmented, like overlapping scales or plates, seamlessly joined. And as I cleared more earth from the base, I saw… hinges. Small, intricate hinges of the same black material, almost invisible against the surface.
Intrigued, I gently tugged at one of the segments. It resisted for a moment, then with a soft click, it yielded, pivoting slightly outwards on a hinge. Hesitantly, I pulled again. Another click, and the segment opened wider, revealing a dark interior. The air that wafted out was cool, faintly metallic, and… floral?
With mounting trepidation and excitement, I worked to open the segment further. It was like a massive, bizarre seed pod, or perhaps a… container? Finally, with a groan of protesting earth, the segment opened wide enough for me to peer inside.
My breath hitched. It wasn’t empty. Nestled within the dark interior, illuminated by the dappled sunlight filtering through the garden, was a profusion of vibrant, otherworldly flowers. They were unlike any I had ever seen – petals of deep violet, edged with silver, and luminous golden stamens that pulsed with a faint, internal light. The floral scent was now stronger, intoxicating and sweet.
As I stared, mesmerized, a small, folded piece of paper nestled amongst the blooms caught my eye. Carefully, I reached in and retrieved it. Unfolding it, I recognized Ben’s handwriting.
It read:
*My Dearest (Your Name),*
*I know my behavior yesterday must have seemed… peculiar. The truth is, I wanted to surprise you. I know you’ve been missing ‘us’ time, and I wanted to create something truly special for your return. These flowers… well, they aren’t from this world. A colleague of mine, who works in… let’s just say, ‘unconventional botany,’ gifted them to me. He said they bloom only under very specific conditions, and their fragrance is said to evoke feelings of deep joy and connection.*
*I wanted to plant them in the garden, so they would be in full bloom when you arrived. I was panicking yesterday because I was worried I wouldn’t get them planted in time, and the surprise would be ruined. I was also afraid you’d think I was completely mad if you saw me digging up the garden with a giant black ‘thing’.*
*Please forgive my secrecy and my clumsy attempts at romance. I just wanted to make your unexpected homecoming truly unforgettable.*
*Welcome home, my love.*
*Ben.*
A wave of warmth washed over me, replacing my suspicion with a rush of affection. Ben, in his awkward, slightly panicked way, had tried to create something magical for me. The ‘ebony ovoid’ wasn’t some sinister object; it was a vessel for extraordinary beauty. His alarm wasn’t about secrecy, but about the fear of failing to deliver a perfect surprise.
Tears welled in my eyes, a mixture of relief and tender amusement. I carefully closed the segment of the flower container, leaving the otherworldly blooms nestled within their dark haven. Then, I went inside, pulled out my phone, and sent Ben a message:
“Flight delayed. Stuck at the airport. So disappointed not to be home yet.”
A few minutes later, his reply came, filled with concern.
“Oh no! Are you okay? Anything I can do?”
I smiled, a genuine, happy smile. “Actually,” I typed back, “There is something you can do. When you get home tonight… meet me in the garden.”
I knew his face would illuminate not just with surprise, but with a relief even greater than mine. And this time, we would share the magic together.