The Hidden Garden

by Samantha Griffiths (South Africa)

I didn't expect to find South Africa

I am a quiet, introverted creature by nature. I enjoy listening more than speaking, allowing the world to give me knowledge. Sadly, this nature of mine had caused me to be very isolated, even in University. I had intense insomnia in my second year, thus I decided to explore my campus with music filling my ears in the dark hours of the morning. I had not ever had the luxury to be able to travel anywhere that wasn't a 30 minute drive from home. So I cherished the walks I had on campus, especially when I found gorgeous hidden gems that few knew of. This is the story of my favorite hidden gem and how it became my sanctuary from the pains of life. It was 3 am when I found it. I was listening to Capricorn by Xan Griffin. As the crescendo hit my ear drums, with his gorgeously pained voice beating into my heart, I stumbled upon a secret little garden. The smell of roses greeted me, and the moon shone its white luminescence upon the scene. Ivy coated every stone table and wall, while rose bushes of every colour grew like mighty warriors out of the soil. I took out my earphones, just to hear the calming chirp of cicadas and beetles in the early morning. It was a wonder to behold, making me wish I had any artistic talent to recreate its image for permanent perusal. This might not seem as grandiose of a destination such as Paris or a Japanese Mountain village, but to a lower middle class girl from South Africa, this place was the most beautiful scenery I had ever laid my eyes upon. It didn't need to have grand attractions or itineraries, nor did it need many people posting about it on social media to gain my attention. It was nature left alone to grow into the beauty it truly was, without humanity spoiling it. It will always be my hidden garden, where the smell of roses will always welcome me, and the ivy will always be a blanket of comfort from which I can see the stars.