The sun had just begun to rise, casting a soft golden light over the yard. I stepped outside with my usual routine in mind — watering the flowers, checking on the garden, and enjoying a few moments of peace before the day fully began.

The air was calm, quiet, and still carrying the freshness of early morning dew. But then, something changed. Just as I reached the edge of the flowerbed, a sudden, overpowering odor hit me. It was sharp, putrid, and clung to the air in a way that instantly turned my stomach.

I paused, confused and slightly alarmed, wondering what could be causing such a strong and revolting smell. My first thought was that maybe an animal had died nearby or that a bag of trash had somehow been left out too long and had begun to rot in the sun. I started scanning the area around me, expecting to find spoiled food or perhaps some unfortunate creature that had met its end in the bushes. But then, my eyes caught…