• The Lilly was different from the Lavender and the Tulip. The Lilly only had one leaf while the other two flowers had at least more than two. But the Lilly didn't let that get him down in the beginning. The Lilly wanted to do his best. The Lilly wanted to be the best.

    "You are too different," stated the Lavender. "You have only a
    single leaf while we have two or more. There is nothing special
    about you. You are a pathetic and worthless flower."

    Every day the Lavender would tell this to the Lilly. And slowly, the Lilly's heart began to feel the strain of the Lavender's words. The weight on the Lilly's heart felt heavier than lead. Eventually, the Lavender's words made the Lilly feel worthless. What was so special about him? The Lilly would ponder. And he knew the answer. Nothing. The Lilly was worthless. And those thoughts would sadden the poor Lilly.

    The Lilly saw so may wonderful things about the Lavender and Tulip only because they were both those type of flowers. The Lavender had gifts bestowed upon him simply for being a Lavender. That annoyed the Lilly. Why wasn't the Lilly special like both of them? They had leaves, while the Lilly only had a measly pad. The Lilly wanted to show the Lavender that he wasn't worthless. How could he show him though? This also saddened the Lilly.

    "Little Lotus, why do you cry?" Asked the Gardener.

    "Because I am worthless for I only have one leaf."

    Cried the Lilly. "I want to be strong!"

    The Gardener smiled at the Lilly. The Gardener knew that the Lilly was different from all the other flowers. But that didn't make the Lilly worthless. It made the Lilly unique. All the flowers were different. Some had one leaf while others had many. Some of the flowers were a single color, while others had countless. Some flowers grew in frees, others on the ground. And there were even some flowers that grew in the most unexpected places. Some flowers were good for the soul. Some were good for the smell. And some were just misunderstood. Each flower was special. The Lilly was no exception.

    "Little Lotus, you are not worthless. You

    are special. Who told you otherwise?"

    "The Lavender." Sighed the Lilly.

    "I'll tell you a secret." Smiled the Gardener.

    "You and I are the same. I need to grow and

    cultivate. You need to feel strong. I'll show

    you how to grow more leaves, Little Lotus."

    "Thank you."

    "A lotus is a beautiful flower. One day,
    I will admire your beauty for the lotus

    is my favorite flower." Spoke the Gardener.

    The Lilly grew happy as he heard the words of the Gardener. His heavy heart was spared of the Lavender's words. The Lilly took the Gardener's words at heart. He wanted to have the Gardener admire him. That was how he would life. He wanted to make the Gardener proud as he witnessed the day he would bloom. The Lilly was eager for his new leaves to grow. But the Gardener smiled at the naïveness of the Lilly. The Lilly was unaware that below the surface of the water, beautiful buds grew. Those buds would be none other than the Little Lotus's leaves...