Write a story with the title, ‘The lake’.

It was a calm, quiet summer evening and the sun was setting on the horizon. The sky was a deep orange, streaked with thin wisps of pink and purple, and the lake was still and peaceful. All around the lake, trees stretched out their branches into the sky, and the birds were singing their evening songs.

At the lake’s edge, a young woman stood, looking out over the calm waters. She was wearing a white dress, and her long dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She had a look of sadness on her face, and as she stared out into the distance, her thoughts drifted back to a time long ago.

She remembered a time when she and her family used to come to the lake and spend long summer days fishing and swimming. But that was before her father had died, and now she was the only one left. She missed her father and the happy memories they had shared at the lake, and tears welled up in her eyes.

As she stood there, lost in thought, she felt a gentle breeze blowing across the lake, and the surface of the water seemed to ripple and move. Suddenly, something caught her eye and she gasped in surprise. In the middle of the lake, a small boat was bobbing gently on the waves.

Curious, she walked closer to the edge of the lake, and as she did, she saw that inside the boat was an old man with a white beard, his eyes closed in sleep. She could see that he was dressed in a white shirt and trousers, and that he was holding something in his hands.

As she watched, the old man slowly opened his eyes and looked in her direction. He smiled at her and said, “Come closer, my child. I have something for you.” She stepped closer and he handed her an old wooden box. Inside the box was a beautiful blue stone, and it shone like the stars in the night sky.

The old man looked into her eyes and said, “The lake is a magical place. It will bring you happiness and joy, but you must never forget the love of your father. He is always here with you, no matter how far away you may be.” With those words, he smiled and closed his eyes.

The young woman stood there, holding the box and the blue stone.