Roses for Rose

Redroseswereherfavorites,hernamewasalsoRose.Andeveryyearherhusbandsentthem,tiedwithprettybows.Theyearhedied,therosesweredeliveredtoherdoor.Thecardsaid,"BemyValentine,"likealltheyearsbefore.

Eachyearhesentherroses,andthenotewouldalwayssay,"Iloveyouevenmorethisyear,thanlastyearonthisday.Myloveforyouwillalwaysgrow,witheverypassingyear."Sheknewthiswasthelasttimethattheroseswouldappear.Shethought,heorderedrosesinadvancebeforethisday.Herlovinghusbanddidnotknow,thathewouldpassaway.Healwayslikedtodothingsearly.Then,ifhegottoobusy,everythingwouldworkoutfine.Shetrimmedthestems,andplacedtheminaveryspecialvase.Then,satthevasebesidetheportraitofhissmilingface.Shewouldsitforhours,inherhusbandsfavoritechair.Whilestaringathispicture,andtherosessittingthere.

Ayearwentby,anditwashardtolivewithouthermate.Withlonelinessandsolitude,thathadbecomeherfate.Then,theveryhour,asonValentinesbefore,thedoor－bellrang,andtherewereroses,sittingbyherdoor.Shebroughttherosesin,andthenjustlookedattheminshock.Then,wenttogetthetelephone,tocallthefloristshop.Theowneranswered,andsheaskedhim,ifhewouldexplain,whywouldsomeonedothistoher,causinghersuchpain？

"Iknowyourhusbandpassedaway,morethanayearago,"Theownersaid,"Iknewyoudcall,andyouwouldwanttoknow.""Theflowersyoureceivedtoday,werepaidforinadvance.""Yourhusbandalwaysplannedahead,heleftnothingtochance."

"Thereisastandingorder,thatIhaveonfiledownhere.Andhehaspaid,wellinadvance,youllgetthemeveryyear.Therealsoisanotherthing,thatIthinkyoushouldknow.Hewroteaspeciallittlecard...hedidthisyearsago."

"Then,shouldever,Ifindoutthathesnolongerhere.Thatsthecard...thatshouldbesent,toyouthefollowingyear."

Shethankedhimandhungupthephone,hertearsnowflowinghard.Herfingersshaking,assheslowlyreachedtogetthecard.Insidethecard,shesawthathehadwrittenheranote.Then,asshestaredintotalsilence,thisiswhathewrote："Hellomylove,IknowitsbeenayearsinceIvebeengone,Ihopeithasntbeentoohardforyoutoovercome.""Iknowitmustbelonely,andthepainisveryreal.Forifitwastheotherway,IknowhowIwouldfeel.Thelovewesharedmadeeverythingsobeautifulinlife.Ilovedyoumorethanwordscansay,youweretheperfectwife."

"Youweremyfriendandlover,youfulfilledmyeveryneed.Iknowitsonlybeenayear,butpleasetrynottogrieve.Iwantyoutobehappy,evenwhenyoushedyourtears.Thatiswhytheroseswillbesenttoyouforyears."

"Whenyougettheseroses,thinkofallthehappinessthatwehadtogether,andhowbothofuswereblessed.IhavealwayslovedyouandIknowIalwayswill.But,mylove,youmustgoon,youhavesomelivingstill."

"Please...trytofindhappiness,whilelivingoutyourdays.Iknowitisnoteasy,butIhopeyoufindsomeways.Theroseswillcomeeveryyear,andtheywillonlystopwhenyourdoorsnotanswered,whenthefloriststopstoknock."

"Hewillcomefivetimesthatday,incaseyouhavegoneout.Butafterhislastvisit,hewillknowwithoutadoubt.Totaketherosestotheplace,whereIveinstructedhim,andplacetherosewhereweare,togetheronceagain."