One Ginger Lily - by Susan Giles

https://Voice.club - The bride’s request was clear. No exorbitant bouquet, no expensive orchids. Simply one ginger lily to carry on her journey down the aisle.

She was adamant - he was dismayed, certain that no ginger lilies had bloomed on earth since the Deep Freeze of 2035. The resulting blizzards combined with rapidly spreading invasive diseases ravaging all the Eastern Hemisphere resulted in major floral changes. Hence, no ginger lilies.

But she remained adamant! Her grandmother and mother had each carried a single ginger lily in their weddings. Tradition stated that her future happiness was contingent upon carrying such a lily.

He thought, plotted, and planned. In his research he discovered a botanist who in 2030 had amassed a tropical flower collection which exceeded all others. This collection was purported to have been placed in a greenhouse in a hidden garden on an unknown island in the South Seas. Could it possibly contain this flower? Would the lily still be propagated in this year of our Lord 2050?

Armed with this knowledge and much confidence, he began his search. After months of calling in chits from his friends and business associates, he financed an exploration to the South Pacific. Days were spent fruitlessly island hopping, nights spent in frustrated dreams. He had now been gone for almost a year doggedly pursuing this flower.

Finally, the day came when he discovered the island, the hidden garden, the greenhouse, and then, the lily!

Waiting for him beside greenhouse was a drone from South Seas-Amazon Messenger Service. The delivered telegram read:

“Stop searching. Stop. Married your best friend. Stop. Carried bouquet of freesia. Stop.”

2 Likes

What a nice choice of flower " The White Ginger Lily ". It symbolize purity, renewal, and elegance.

But the ending makes me wonder: Does the bride not wait for him to come back and marry her best friend while carrying a bouquet of freesia?

What a terrible blow for a dedicated loving man who went to so much research, trouble, effort and expense for his intended. The bride was so fickle! Your last line shattered his hopes. What a world of betrayal! Did the bride wreck her future happiness by not carrying a ginger lily down the aisle? Can I encourage you to please write part two? I thoroughly enjoyed this humorous read with such contrasting characters!

What a heart-stopping conclusion, Susan! The climate is delicate, but romance is even more so. Great world-creating here with the dystopian future, and you connect it with a story that is timeless. Love it!

Great story Susan! The lily certainly didn’t symbolise patience or purity for such a vain Bridezilla!