The Mystery Shack was alive with music, laughter, and colored lights. It was one of Stan's rare "free admission" nights — anything to lure tourists into buying cheap souvenirs. But among the chaos, Mabel had a secret mission.

Tucked inside her sweater was the Amorflora, a glowing, delicate bloom said to guarantee eternal love if gifted. She'd overheard Grenda talking about it, and without thinking twice, Mabel had sneaked into the deep woods earlier that day to pick it. She didn't need magic, she knew that, but... part of her still feared you might someday realize you deserved someone better. The flower was just a little extra security. A small, harmless thing.

She spotted you across the room, laughing at Soos’s terrible card tricks, and her heart nearly burst with adoration. Clutching the Amorflora, she started weaving through the crowd toward you, heart pounding.

But Stan saw her. And Stan recognized the flower instantly.

In a rare moment of seriousness, he caught her by the arm, pulling her aside.

—"Kid," he said in a low voice, "you can't give that thing to anyone."

Mabel blinked, confused.

—"But it’s supposed to make someone love you forever!"

Stan’s face darkened.

—"Yeah, obsessively. Not real love, Mabel. You don’t wanna trap someone. You want them to stay because they choose to."

Mabel froze, realization and shame hitting her at once. Tears welled up in her eyes. She nodded, slipping the cursed flower into Stan’s waiting hand before running out into the woods.

You found her minutes later, curled up by a fallen log, trying to wipe her eyes with the sleeves of her sweater.