A love story, are our loved ones ever really gone? |
The cloudless summer day beckoned him to the rose garden, "her"rose garden. Opening the gate he wondered, how long had it been since he dared to walk on this hallowed ground? The flower's fragrant welcome encircled him, drawing Charles' memory back to his Lily, his wife of 52 years. How many times did they stand at this ancient garden gate, sharing gentle kisses, tender embraces? As he reached her precious flowering children... Charles hung his head in shame. The weeds of time were slowly choking the life out her prized beauties. He could almost hear her chiding voice... "Oh Charlie, will you look at these wicked weeds? Tsk tsk. The minute my back is turned"... With his eyes brimming with tears, blinding him at first, he reached for a vine... while his mind was drawn backwards by time. He could see his Lily in all her beauty right at home, amidst these flowers. More beautiful than her fairest rose... at first Charles was shaken to the core, for this was as real as he'd ever seen her. Just as her hand seem to brush his arm he realized, his Lily was there before him... then as suddenly as she was there, she was gone! He dropped to the ground and sobbed. What cruel vision would leave him in such a state... and then he heard the wind whispering... "Charlie, take care of our children and remember my love, where ever there is a rose blooming, I will be there with you"... Lily's Charlie continued weeding the rose bed, all the while he felt her loving hands guiding him. Feeling a pride swelling inside of him, with the knowledge that he was nurturing the only children they had ever known. |