Foreword:
Intherollinghillsofapicturesquevalleystoodasmallorchard,whererowsofappletreesstretchedasfarastheeyecouldsee.InthemidstofitallwasayoungwomannamedLily,whohadinheritedtheorchardfromherfather.Shelovedeverythingabouttheorchard:thesweetfragranceoftheblossomsinspring,thebuzzofbeesinsummer,andthecrispcrunchofripeapplesinautumn.Forher,eachtreewasacherishedfriend,andeachappleapreciousgift.
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Oneday,asLilywaspickingapples,shenoticedastrangerwalkingalongtheedgeoftheorchard.Hewastallandlean,withcurlyblackhairandbrightblueeyes.Shewatchedhimforawhile,curiousabouthisintentions.Heseemedlostinthought,hisgazefixedonthetrees.
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Ashedrewcloser,Lilysteppedoutfrombehindatreeandgreetedhim.Helookedup,startled,andsmiledather.Shefeltastrangeflutterinherstomach,asifshehadjustcaughtaglimpseofsomethingmagical.
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"Hello,"shesaid,tryingtosoundcasual."CanIhelpyouwithsomething?"
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Thestrangershookhishead."No,Iwasjustadmiringyourorchard.It'sbeautiful."
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Lilyfeltawarmflushofpride."Thankyou.It'sbeeninmyfamilyforgenerations."
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Theychattedforafewminutes,andshelearnedthathisnamewasAdam,andhewasanartistwhotraveledtheworldinsearchofinspiration.Lilywasfascinatedbyhisstoriesofexoticplacesandcolorfulcharacters.
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Astheywalkedthroughtheorchard,Adamadmiredthedifferentvarietiesofapplesandaskedabouttheirflavorsanduses.Lilyenjoyedexplainingthenuancesofeachone,andfeltasenseofprideinherknowledge.
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Beforeheleft,Adamaskedifhecouldpaintaportraitofheramongthetrees.Lilyfeltathrillofexcitementattheidea,andagreed.
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Thenextday,Adamarrivedwithhiscanvasandpaints,andsetuphiseaselinashadyspot.Lilyposedforhim,feelingself-consciousandflatteredatthesametime.Asheworked,shewatchedhimclosely,marvelingathisskillandcreativity.
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Whenhefinishedthepainting,Adampresentedittoherwithaflourish.Lilywasamazedbyhowlifelikeitwas,andhowhehadcapturedtheessenceofherandtheorchard.
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Overthenextfewweeks,Adamcamebacktovisitoften.Theytalkedandlaughedandsharedtheirdreamsandfears.Lilyfoundherselflookingforwardtohisvisitsmoreandmore,andfeelingadeepconnectiontohim.
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Oneday,Adamtoldherhehadtoleaveforawhile,totraveltoafar-offlandonanimportantmission.Lilyfeltapangofsadness,butsheunderstoodthathisartwashislife.
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Monthswentby,andLilymissedAdamterribly.Shepaintedpicturesofhimandimaginedhimwalkingamongthetreeswithher.Sheevenwrotehimletters,butneversentthem.
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Then,oneday,shereceivedapackageinthemail.ItwasfromAdam,andinsidewasasmallwoodenbox.Sheopenediteagerly,andgaspedatwhatshesaw.
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Insidewasabeautifulgoldenapple,carvedfromwoodandpolishedtoashine.Alongwithitwasanotethatread:"FortheAppleofMyEye."
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Lilyfeltasuddensurgeofemotion,realizinghowmuchshehadcometocareforAdam.Sheknewthenthatshelovedhim,andthattheorchardwouldneverbethesamewithouthim.
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Yearswentby,andLilygrewold.Theorchardflourishedunderhercare,andshewashappy,butalwayslongingforAdam.Shekeptthegoldenapplewithheralways,areminderofwhatshehadlostandwhatshehadgained.
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Then,oneday,ayoungmancametotheorchard,lookinglostandalone.Hehadcurlyblackhairandbrightblueeyes,andhecarriedawoodenbox.
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Lilyrecognizedhimimmediately,andherheartleaptwithjoy.ItwasAdam,returnedfromhislongjourney.Theyembraced,andLilyfelttearsstreamingdownherface.
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Adamopenedtheboxandtookoutabeautifulsilverapple,etchedwithintricatedesigns.HehandedittoLily,saying:"FortheOrchardofMyHeart."
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Lilyfeltasenseofcompletion,asifeverythinghadcomefullcircle.Theyspenttherestoftheirdaystogether,walkingamongthetreesandsharingtheirlove.
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Andwhentheypassedon,theorchardremained,atestamenttotheirloveandthebeautyoftheworld.Eachyear,astheapplesripenedandfelltotheground,theirmemorieslivedon,likethesweetfragranceofblossomsinspring.
