The Brothers and the Allegory Rose

In a small village, there were flowers everywhere—big ones, small ones, blue, pink, and purple ones. Some flowers were for eating, some for decorating, and the most special ones were for healing.

Two brothers in the village were the best flower growers. They were the only ones who could grow the Allegory Rose, a flower with magical healing powers. People traveled from far away just to find it.

One spring, the brothers planted their roses. In three weeks, the flowers bloomed bright and strong. But then, a terrible storm swept through the village, tearing all the flowers down.

“What bad luck,” said the older brother.

“I can’t let this happen again!” the younger brother said. “I will build a cover to protect my rose from storms!”

“But how will it get enough sunlight?” the older brother asked.

“It will get plenty of sun from the sides,” the younger brother said.

So, they planted again. Three weeks later, their roses bloomed, but the younger brother’s rose was a little smaller this time.

One morning, they found that a villager’s goat had eaten all the flowers!

“My rose!” the younger brother cried.

“Oh dear,” said the older brother. “Well, at least the goat had a good meal. We can always plant again.”

“This will not happen again!” the younger brother shouted. “I will build a fence to keep out hungry animals! My rose is mine!”
So, the brothers planted once more.

Three weeks later, the roses bloomed again. But then, a group of thieves stormed the village and stole all the flowers.
The brothers held each other tightly as the younger brother wept.

“How can people be so cruel?” he cried. “I won’t let this happen again! I will build a wall around my rose so no one can take it!”

The older brother placed a hand on his shoulder. “Brother, don’t let others harden your heart. We can’t control storms, animals, or people. But we can control how we respond. Let’s plant again.”

“I choose to protect what’s mine!” the younger brother said.

So, they planted again. The older brother grew his roses as always, while the younger brother built a strong wall around his, with a thick glass top.

Three weeks later, the roses bloomed once more, but again the younger brother’s was not as strong.

One day, the younger brother’s daughter became very sick. The village doctor said only the nectar of an Allegory Rose could heal her.
The younger brother ran to his garden. But when he reached his rose, he realized something terrible—he had built the wall too strong. There was no way in. He couldn’t reach the flower that could save his daughter.

Tears filled his eyes. The villagers gathered as he fell to his knees.

Then, the older brother arrived. He held out a small bottle of nectar. “Brother, we must not let the actions of others harden our hearts. One day, someone will need the love inside, and if we build too many walls, we won’t be able to reach them.”

The younger brother took the nectar, ran home, and gave it to his daughter. Soon, she was well again.

The next morning, the younger brother took a sledgehammer to his wall. He had learned an important lesson: even though his heart could be hurt, he couldn’t lock it away. Because one day, someone might need the love inside.