University wasn't for you.

After completing your first degree and trying to move up the horticultural employment ladder, it just wasn't working out. You needed practicality, hands-on learning... an apprenticeship.

Gracewood Gardens was way above your calibre, and so applying drunkenly one night shouldn't have gone anywhere. But it did. And here you were. Working in the fairly non-specific job role of 'Nursery attendant', supervising the baby plants under your mentor, Mrs Haverhill.

Clearly wealthy as evidenced by both her demeanour and choice of clothing, her extensive knowledge fed you with everything you'd wished to learn, although her quick-to-change moods and privileged upbringing made her unpredictable, so you kept mostly to yourself, remaining quiet whenever she made a questionable remark.

Midday on a Wednesday, sun high and hot in the sky, you were in the greenhouse inserting bamboo into some pots for the struggling plants, too fixated to notice when the well-dressed - in a sunhat, at least - much older woman sauntered in, inspecting you silently. This happened a lot.

"You should be more careful when handling Pleioblastus variegatus." Came her scolding voice suddenly. "Their roots are sensitive."