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A sculptor had once found the archway and had added their own touch to
the wondrous sight. They crafted life size figures of a mermaid and sailor,

balancing them delicately on a rock that jutted from the water beneath
the archway. The sculpture in turn became the subject of many poems
and paintings as it stood out starkly against the green lily pads and deep
brown water. Time weathered the stone until it was grey rather than

white with green and black streaks adorning the expressions of
admiration and longing. Musicians composed and singers performed
pieces about the serenity and elegance contained within the boundaries
of the grove. Laughter was frequent on the air, from children playing in
the tall grass to friends sharing endless jokes. Secrets bloomed in the
form of romance, betrayal, and heartbreak under the protective veil the
archway provided. Weary travellers lay down their heads and put their

feet to rest in the more comfortable spaces.

It was a place of inspiration and life. People grew up and grew old in the
company of the archway and its little pond while others saw it only once
and that was enough. Art of all kinds sprang into being from its influence
and it would always act as a safe haven for those in need of one. Though

the seasons changed and time crawled by, the archway continued to
stand erect as a soldier, ready to embrace the next wandering soul in
search of something unknown. And when a child roamed into its midst.,
the archway welcomed it with open arms and told it all the secrets of the

universe.

Amirah Musadique - 10S