Another Love Story

IT all started when I was 6 years old. While I was playing outside on my farm in California, I met a boy. He was an average kind of boy who teased you and then you chased them and beat them up. After that first meeting in which I beat him up we kept on meeting and beating each other up at the fence.

That only lasted for a little while though. We would meet at the fence all the time and we were always together. I would tell him all my secrets. He was quite very quiet he would just listen to what I had to say. I found him easy to talk to and I could talk to him about everything. In school we had separate friends but when we got home we would always talk about what happened in school.

One day I said to him that a guy I liked hurt me and broke my heart. He just comforted me and said everything would be okay. He gave me words of encouragement and helped me get over him. I was happy and thought of him as a real friend. But I knew that there was something else about him that I liked. I thought of it that night and figured it was just a friend kinda thing that I was feeling. All through high school and even through graduation we're always together and of course I thought of it as being friends.

But I knew deep inside that I really felt differently. On graduation night even though we had different dates to the prom I wanted to be with him. That night after everybody went home I went to his house and wanted to tell him that I wanted to see him. Well, that night was my big chance and all I did was just sit there with him watching the stars and talking about what I was going to do and what he was going to do. I looked into his eyes and listened to him talk about what his dream was. How he wanted to get married and settle down. He said how he wanted to be rich and successful. All I could do was to tell him my dream and cuddle next to him. I went home hurting because I didn't tell him how I was feeling.

I wanted to tell him so bad that I loved him but I was too scared and frightened. I let my feelings go and told myself that someday I would tell him just how I felt. All through college I wanted to tell him but he always had someone with him. After graduation he got a job in New York, I was happy for him but at the same time I was sad to see him go. I was sad also because I didn't tell him how I felt. But I couldn't let him know now that he was leaving for his big job. So I just kept it to myself and watched him go on the plane. I cried as I hugged him for what I felt was going to be the last time. I went home that night and cried my eyes out. I felt hurt that I didn't tell him what I had inside my heart.

Well, I got a job as a secretary and then worked my way to a computer analyst. I was proud of what I had accomplished. One day I got a letter with an invitation to a marriage. It was from him, I was happy and sad at the same time. Now I know that I could never be with him and that we could only be friends. I went to the wedding the next month. It was a big occasion. The big church wedding and the reception at the hotel.

I met the bride and of course him. I fell in love one more time. But I held back so it wouldn't spoil what should be the happiest day in his life. I tried to have fun that night but it was killing me inside watching him being so happy and me trying to be happy covering up my sadness tears inside of me.

I left New York feeling that I did the right thing. Before I left on the flight, he came running out of nowhere and said his good-byes and how he was very happy to see me. I came home and just tried to forget about what went on in New York. I had to go on with my life.

As the years went on, we wrote to each other on what was going on and how he had missed talking to me. On one occasion he never wrote back to me at all. I was getting worried as to why he hadn't written anything for a long time after I had already written 6 letters to him. Well, just when everything seemed hopeless and sad in my life, I got a note that said: "meet me at the fence where we used to talk about things". I went and saw him there. I was happy to see him, but he was broken-hearted and sad inside. We hugged until we couldn't breathe anymore. Then he told me about the divorce and why he hadn't written for a long time. He cried until he couldn't cry anymore.

Finally, we went back to the house and talked and laughed about what I had been going and to catch up on old times. But in all of this, I couldn't tell him how I felt about him. In the days that followed, he had fun and forgot about all his problem and his divorce. I fell in love again with him. When it came time for him to leave back to New York, I went to see him off and cried. I hated to see him leave. He promised to see me every time he could get a vacation. I couldn't wait for him to come so I could be with him. We would always have fun when we were together.

One day he didn't show up like he said he would. I figured that he might have been busy. The days turned into months and I just forgot about it. Then I got a call one day from a lawyer in New York. The lawyer said that he had died in a car accident going to the airport. And that it took this long till everything was settled. It broke my heart. I was shocked about what took place. Now I knew why he didn't come that day. Again, I was broken-hearted. I cried that night, cried tears of sadness and heartache. Asking questions why did this happen to a kind guy like him? I gathered my things and went to New York for the reading of his will.

Of course, things were given to his family and his ex-wife. I finally got to meet her since the last time we met at the wedding. She explained to me how he was and how he always provided. But he was always unhappy. She would always try everything but she couldn't get him happy, as he was that night at their wedding. When the will was read, the one thing that was given to me was a diary. It was a dairy that of his life. I cried as it was given to me... As I flew on the plane I remembered the good times that we had together.

I started reading the diary and what was written. The diary was started with the day we first met. I read on till I started to cry. The diary told of him saying that he had fallen in love with me that day I was broken-hearted. But he was too afraid to tell me what he had felt. That is why he was so quiet and liked to listen to me. It told of how he wanted to tell me so many times, but was too afraid to say anything. It told of when he went to New York and fell in love with another. How the happiest time he had was seeing me and dancing with me at the wedding. He said he imagined it was our wedding. How he was always unhappy till he had no choice but to divorce his wife. How the best time in his life was to read the letters written to him by me. Finally, the diary ended when it said, "today I will tell her I love her". It was the day he was killed. The day I was going to finally find out what was really in his heart.

Let my story be a lesson to all. If you love someone, don't wait till tomorrow to tell him/her. Maybe that next day will never come at all.

-Richard Simmons

Silent Love

From the very beginning, the girl's family objected strongly on her dating this guy. Saying that it has got to do with family background & that the girl will have to suffer for the rest of her life if she were to be with him.

Due to family's pressure, the couple quarrel very often. Though the girl love the guy deeply, but she always ask him: "How deep is your love for me?"

As the guy is not good with his words, this often causes the girl to be very upset. With that & the family's pressure, the girl often vents her anger on him. As for him, he only endures it in silence.

After a couple of years, the guy finally graduated & decided to further his studies in overseas. Before leaving, he proposed to the girl: "I'm not very good with words. But all I know is that I love you. If you allow me, I will take care of you for the rest of my life. As for your family, I'll try my best to talk them round. Will you marry me?"

The girl agreed, & with the guy's determination, the family finally gave in & agreed to let them get married. So before he leaves, they got engaged.

The girl went out to the working society, whereas the guy was overseas, continuing his studies. They sent their love through emails & phone calls. Though it's hard, but both never thought of giving up.

One day, while the girl was on her way to work, she was knocked down by a car that lost control. When she woke up, she saw her parents beside her bed. She realized that she was badly injured. Seeing her mum crying, she wanted to comfort her. But she realized that all that could come out of her mouth was just a sigh. She has lost her voice......

The doctor says that the impact on her brain has caused her to lose her voice. Listening to her parents' comfort, but with nothing coming out from her, she broke down.

During the stay in hospital, besides silence cry,.....it's still just silence cry that companied her. Upon reaching home, everything seems to be the same. Except for the ringing tone of the phone. Which pierced into her heart every time it rang. She does not wish to let the guy know. & not wanting to be a burden to him, she wrote a letter to him saying that she does not wish to wait any longer.

With that, she sent the ring back to him. In return, the guy sent millions & millions of reply, and countless of phone calls,.. all the girl could do, besides crying, is still crying....

The parents decided to move away, hoping that she could eventually forget everything & be happy.

With a new environment, the girl learnt sign language & started a new life. Telling herself everyday that she must forget the guy. One day, her friend came & told her that he's back. She asked her friend not to let him know what happened to her. Since then, there wasn't anymore news of him.

A year has passed & her friend came with an envelope, containing an invitation card for the guy's wedding. The girl was shattered. When she opened the letter, she saw her name in it instead.

When she was about to ask her friend what's going on, she saw the guy standing in front of her. He used sign language telling her "I've spent a year's time to learn sign language. Just to let you know that I've not forgotten our promise. Let me have the chance to be your voice. I Love You. With that, he slipped the ring back into her finger. The girl finally smiled.

Marry Me!

The first time I asked her to marry me was when we were six years old.

"I'll be the husband," I said, "and you can be the wife."
"No," she replied simply.
"Yes," I said.
"No," she replied again and walked off.
After a few moments, I walked off too. It’s no fun playing house alone.

The second time I asked her to marry me, was when we were fourteen. We were partners in a dance for the annual school program and I was waiting for her to come out of the dressing room. I was dressed in a black suit and bowtie. As she stepped out of the dressing room in a pink dress that came down to her knees, I took a deep breath. She looked like an angel that had just stepped down from the heavens. As we waited for the teachers to give the signal for us to get on stage, I stared at her and tried to find my voice. She caught me looking and smiled as she asked, "What are you looking at?"
"Will you marry me?" I blurted out.
Her smile turned into a grin, and a second later she burst out laughing. I didn't mind. I could see stars in her eyes. Still laughing, she took my hand and led me onto the stage.

The third time I asked her to marry me was on her sixteenth birthday. We were at a picnic with friends and the two of us were sitting by ourselves under a tree as the rest argued about which game to play next. She laughed at something someone was talking about in the distance. I heard the tinkling of bells in her voice. I plucked a daisy that was growing nearby and gave it to her as I said, "Will you be my wife?"
She blushed as she looked at the flower, and then burst out laughing again. She took the flower and ran to join the rest of the group. I followed.

The fourth time, we were eighteen. We were sitting in the cafeteria in college as she sat sipping on a glass of orange juice and telling me how beautiful the last poem she read had been. After speaking continuously for a few minutes, she stopped and said, "What happened? Why aren't you saying anything?"
I looked into her eyes and said, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
As before, she burst out laughing again and said, "You're not old enough to get married yet." And then she started talking about another poem.

The fifth time I asked her to marry me was the day of our graduation. We were both twenty-one. I got down on one knee with a red rose in my hand and said to her, "Will you, now, take me to be your husband?"
She grinned this time, and replied, "You're always in a hurry. You wanted to do your post-graduation, right?"
I shrugged, got back on my feet, and walked with her to the convocation hall.

Four years later, I had finished my post-graduation and had a job in a multinational company. We were sitting in an ice cream shop when she brought it up. "You haven't asked me to marry you in four years," she said. "What happened? Did you change your mind?" She was smiling widely.
"What do you think?" I teased.
"I think you're afraid I’ll reject you again."
"You haven't really rejected me even once, till now," I countered. "You never really said 'No'."
"I did when we were six," she pointed out.
"She remembers", I thought to myself, as I smiled at the memory.
I held out a spoon of ice cream for her to taste, and said, "Alright, so you rejected me once."
"So?" she asked as she tasted my ice cream.
"So nothing," I replied.
She rolled her eyes in silence. She was no longer smiling.
"Well?" I asked. "Do you think I've changed my mind?"

She frowned as she said, "I don't know." She looked beautiful even when she frowned.
I watched her for a few seconds and said, "Why don't you ask me to marry you this time?"
"Me?" she replied, eyes wide in surprise.
"Why?" I asked. "What's wrong with that?"
She blushed. "No," she said.
"Are you rejecting me again?" I asked.
"No, no!" she said quickly.
"So then you are saying 'Yes'?"
She stuck her tongue out at me as she realized what I was trying to do, and went back to eating her ice cream.
"Hey," I said, as I took her hand in mine. "Marry me."
She scrunched up her nose as she replied, "Are you sure?"
I'd been sure since I was six. "Yes," I said simply.
And she just smiled and nodded.

Always Be My Baby

Click here to listen to the song

we we were as one babe
for a moment in time
and it seemed everlasting
that you would always be mine
now you want to be free
so I’m letting you fly
cause i know in my heart babe
our love will never die no!

you’ll always be a part of me
i’m a part of you indefinitely
girl, don’t you know you can’t escape me
ooh darling cause you’ll always be my baby
and we’ll linger on
time can’t erase a feeling this strong
no way you’re never gonna shake me
ooh darling cause you’ll always be my baby
i ain’t gonna cry no
and i won’t beg you to stay
if you’re determined to leave

i will not stand in your way
but inevitably you’ll be back again
cause ya know in your heart babe
our love will never end no
you’ll always be a part of me
i’m part of you indefinitely
don’t you know you can’t escape me
ooh darling cause you’ll always be my baby
and we’ll linger on
time can’t erase a feeling this strong
no way you’re never gonna shake me
ooh darlin cause you’ll always be my baby

i know that you’ll be back babe

when your days and your nights get a little bit colder
i know that,you’ll be right back, baby
oh, baby believe me it’s only a matter of time
of time

you’ll always be a part of me
i’m part of you indefinitely
don’t you know you can’t escape me
ooh darlin cause you’ll always be my baby
and we’ll linger on (and we will linger on)
time cant erase a feeling this strong
no way you’re never gonna shake me
ooh darlin cause you’ll always be my baby

you’ll always be a part of me
i’m part of you indefinitely
boy don’t you know you can’t escape me
ooh darlin cause you’ll always be my baby (no no)
and we’ll linger on (you and I will always be)
time cant erase a feeling this strong
no way you’re never gonna shake me (you & I)
ooh darlin cause you’ll always be my baby (you & I)

you and i will always be
no way your never gonna shake me
no way your never gonna shake me
you and i will always be

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is mother's day and the first person I would like to greet is my wonderful girlfriend/bestfriend/soulmate/fiancee who is a mother of a four year old kid. I know it's not easy handling a kid that age but I know you're doing one hell of a great job.

So today here's a small something to all mothers out there. Happy Mother's day!

My Mother Taught Me About...

1. My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION...

"Just wait until your father gets home."


2. My Mother taught me about RECEIVING....

"You are going to get it when we get home!"

3. My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE...

"What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you! Don't talk back to me!"

4. My Mother taught me LOGIC...

"If you fall out off that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."


5. My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE...

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

6. My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD...

"If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job."

7. My Mother taught me HUMOR...

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."


8. My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT...

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

9. My Mother taught me about GENETICS...

"You're just like your father."

10. My Mother taught me about my ROOTS...

"Do you think you were born in a barn?"


11. My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE...

"When you get to be my age, you will understand."

And last but not least...

12. My Mother taught me about JUSTICE...

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you....Then you'll see what it's like!"

Stuck With Each Other

Happy 22nd Monthsary Baby

Thank you for the wonderful and very memorable months we have spent together. Although we are apart, I have never felt closer to you than with anyone else in the world. Thank you for being my bestfriend, my lover, my confidant, my heart, my soul and my love. I miss you. I just want to let you know that you mean the world to me and I can never find anyone as sweet and as thoughtful as you. I love you very much my waby GP. :)

MY Love Letter

My Baby GP,

Since I met you I’ve known love as a heartbreak, a despair and a disappointment but with you everything feels different. You taught me that love isn’t only just giving but taking as well, that if we love we can be selfish too, that love also brings happiness and goodness. You have been the only person who ever understood me..The real me and not the mask I show the world. With you, I can be myself.. and the wonderful thing about that is you’ve never once complained nor judged me.. I can be plain, old, simple me.. and still you’ll love me..

Baby, many a time have both felt heartbreak and loss, not over death but over a love that we thought got wasted. But baby, I didn’t think it was.. a waste I mean.. because without them we never could have gotten this far.. we never would have found each other.. I never would have known what true love feels like.. what being loved feels like..

Baby, I have never considered myself pretty or beautiful but when I am with you, you make me feel as though I am the most beautiful girl in the world.. you should know that you do make me feel that way.. I know I may say this more often than not but I am so blessed and lucky to have someone who loves me like you do.. YOU are the most important person in my life.. both you and angee..

A lifetime may not be enough for me to show you what I truly feel for you but I’m going to try.. I deserve you as much as you deserve me.. We are God’s gift to each other. He decided to give us the LOVE we are both worthy of..

Baby, I could never imagine my life right now, if I have not met you.. the only regret I’ve ever had is not meeting you before all those other girls.. before they had the chance to hurt you.. I should have been there.. to protect you.. to love you..

Thank you for all those times that you were the one who comforted me when I was down, supported me in my every endeavor, listened to me though I always talked gibberish or when I tell my lame jokes, for taking care of me whenever I’m sick or pretending to be sick.. Thank you for the hugs and kisses, they make me feel better and to make it through another day..

I look forward to every coming daylight for it would be another day to spend with you.. I look forward to every coming sunset for it would be another night I get to spend in your arms.. I thank you for being the BEST thing that ever happened in my life.. for being the Mr. Right that I have been waiting for..

Gerard Peter Frayco, you are my dream come true.. my knight in shining armor.. my very own Prince Charming.. and though we may not know what the future holds, I’m going to spend everyday of the rest of my life showing you just how much you mean to me.. and how I’ m so afraid to ever lose you or to live my life without you..


I love you so much,
Genny

Just Because..

You feel that way cause I feel that way too.. I care for you because for so many times that you have cared for someone, you deserve to be taken cared of too.. the ‘good’ I find in you is everything about you.. the way you smile, the way you make me feel.. so special and so loved.. It feels so perfect cause we are perfect for each other.. you make me a better person than I used to be in more ways than one.. and it becomes dull and lifeless if we are not together cause for me.. you are the only one who understands and who has the patience especially on my most crazy times.. This girl can brighten the whole room because she has found the one she loves and cherish in that room and it becomes altogether bright with the love I feel for you.. My smile means more to you the way your smile and every little thoughtful and wonderful thing you’ve ever done for me means more to me than anything in the world.. My eyes amaze you because they show the window to my soul inside burning with its love for you and only you.. they express so many emotions such as love, care, understanding, gentleness and wonder.. wonder as to how I was lucky enough to have found someone as special as you are.. someone who is my kindred spirit.. my soul’s other half.. someone who was once a dream and now has come true.. my prince.. my knight.. someone I turn to not only in good times but also in bad ones.. you cant imagine life without me because I can never imagine mine without you.. It’s a misery realizing I almost lost you and how I would have lived life without feeling this LOVE, the kind of love we have.. I love you in your weaknesses as you have loved me in mine.. it’s not that we overlook them but instead we accept them.. we accept that it’s a part of who we are.. and to love means to love without boundaries or limits.. You cant stop thinking of me because I constantly think of you.. and how much I always want to be with you.. Time seizes to exist because when we are together it seems to pale into existence.. to not mean anything.. it could be as long and as short as we want it and it would never be enough.. our time together will never be enough.. Our love makes us forget that there are other people around us.. it makes us forget hardships and difficulties that we have encountered and surpassed because our love for each other is strong neither time nor other people will ever break us a part.. and that’s a PROMISE I’m willing to make.. a promise I will forever keep..
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MY BABY..

A Love Letter from the Heart

Sunday, November 11, 2007
8:12 PM



Why do I have to feel this way? Why do you care for me more than I can ever care for you? What is in me that you find so “good”? Why does it feel so perfect every time you’re here yet life is dull and meaningless every second you’re away? How can a girl brighten up a whole room just by walking inside it? How can your smile mean more to me than any item I can ever possess? How can your eyes utter a million expressions that make me look at you in sheer amazement? What have I done to deserve a girl as sweet and loving such as you? Why can’t I imagine my life without you? Why do you love me in spite of my weaknesses? Why can’t I stop thinking about you? Why does time seize to exist when we’re together? Why do I love you so much that I seem to forget everything around me?

10:04 PM

I never thought I’d find that special someone I’ve always dreamed of, someone sweet and gentle, loving and caring. I thought it would always remain just a dream, so precious yet so fleeting. Till you came along and made that dream into something more real than I have ever imagined. I have found my life’s dream in you and in you alone. I love you.

12:13 AM

I was watching a movie a few minutes ago when I closed it and looked around the room. I realized how empty my life is without you. I suddenly had that feeling of loneliness and gloom. I guess I just miss you. You’ve been a part of me that it was so hard to not to have you here. I’m not happy, I’m only happy when you’re around. Please come back. I miss your hugs, your kisses and the way you laugh when I tickle you. I’ve never been sure of anything else but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You know, several months ago you were nothing but someone from work. Now, it’s like everything, my whole existence revolves around you. I know we haven’t really known each other that much and everyday there’s something new to learn. I’m willing to learn everything about you. I don’t care if it’ll take forever to get to know you. We’ll get into arguments and fights but I’m willing to work things out just for you. I will sing karaoke if that’s what makes you happy. I’m ready to eat foods I haven’t eaten if that’s what you want us to do. I will watch every bit of romantic movies you pick. I will even write this letter down just to prove to you that I love you!

From the deepest part of my heart, I love you.

Goodnight my baby, I know you’re asleep. Remember I’m constantly thinking of you. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

Screaming your name,
GP

Mad

Questions and Answers part 3

Gen: Would you rather navigate a boat or pilot a plane?
GP: Boat, I like to go island hopping.

Gen: Skydiving or bungee jumping?
GP: Skydiving.

Gen: Your first pinoy celebrity crush?
GP: Anna Larrucea and Camile Pratts

Gen: Who is your longest crush?
GP: You, had a crush on you since the day we met.

Gen: Who made your heart skipped a beat the first time?
GP: I can't remember, but my heart skipped a beat when someone kissed me at the elevator :P
Describe our love story in 5 words.
Perfect, Romantic, Sweet, Exciting, Forever

Gen: Describe our arguments in 3 words.
GP: Momentarily, Sad, Sorry

Gen: Describe the day we first kissed in 4 words.
GP: Taboo, Breathtaking, Saccharine, Fleeting

Gen: A sweet romantic night on the beach or adventurous camping trip?
GP: Sweet romantic night then adventurous camping trip :P Pwede man duha.

Gen: Spending a warm night in a cabin with a snow filled mountain view on our window or tropical island getaway somewhere in the pacific with a cozy cottage a few meters away from the shore?
GP: Warm night in a cabin just watching the glow from the fireplace and enjoying a cuddle. Then pag morning mag skiing daun ta or himo snow man or snow fight then after that himo daun ta ug shake.

Gen: If we were to break up, how do you go about courting me again?
GP: Textbook style. The most romantic thing ever written in books and seen in the movies. I'll do all of that just to get you to fall in love with me again.

Gen: If I had cancer with only a couple of years more to live, would you still stay with me or look for someone else to love?
GP: I'll stay with you. I'll be by your side each and every day.

Wedding Vows

"When I was six years old I met him in the playground and he came up to me with a daisy, just the one, and knelt on both knees and asked me to marry him. So I pushed him over then ran away. Two days later he came over and asked if he could play cops and robbers with me and from that day on we played everyday.

At 11 on my first day of Secondary school I was so nervous but at lunch time he came to find me, and we sat down and ate lunch together. We did this everyday for an entire year. You were the first person I told about everything, about my crushes, about my lessons and about all the people I hated, and when I was 13 and thought I was the only one who had never been kissed, you offered to show me how, and by the tree in your backgarden we shared our first kiss.

At 15 we went to our first proper house party, and I got drunk. Even though I made a fool of myself you were there to help me stand strong. You didnt judge and you didnt make fun.

Over the next year we began to seperate, made different friends. I got my first serious boyfriend and you went through quite a few girlfriends. And then it got to May and that meant the prom. Everything had been arranged, I'd been getting my outfit for months and then the day before I found out my boyfriend had cheated on me. The first person I turned to was you. You turned up at my door with a bouquet of roses and a vintage 1950's car.

I laughed that night
I cried that night

We had three glorious yars together, when everyday I would smile. Even on the last when your mother stood up, in the church infornt of your coffin and began reading from your diary:

"I saw you when I was six stood by the bench in a blue checked dress and daisy shoes and I needed to give an other daisy just because.... Becuase i loved you from that day on"

His wedding vows written the day after prom, that I will never get to hear."

Work of Art?

Another Touching Story

Sophie's face faded into the gray winter light of the sitting room. She dozed in the armchair that Joe had bought for her on their fortieth anniversary. The room was warm and quiet. Outside it was snowing lightly.

At a quarter past one the mailman turned the corner onto Allen Street. He was behind on his route, not because of the snow, but because it was Valentine's Day and there was more mail than usual. He passed Sophie's house without looking up. Twenty minutes later he climbed back into his truck and drove off.

Sophie stirred when she heard the mail truck pull away, then took off her glasses and wipe her mouth and eyes with the handkerchief she always carried in her sleeve. She pushed herself up using the arm of the chair for support, straightened slowly and smoothed the lap of her dark green housedress.

Her slippers made a soft, shuffling sound on the bare floor as she walked to the kitchen. She stopped at the sink to wah the two dishes she had left on the counter after lunch. Then she filled a plastic cup halfway with water and took her pills. It was one forty-five.

There was a rocker in the sitting room by the front window. Sophie eased herself into it. In a half-hour the children would be passing by on their way home from school. Sophie waited, rocking and watching the snow.

The boys came first, as always, runnng and calling out things Sophie could not hear. Today they were making snowball as they went, throwing them at one another. One snowball missed and smackd hard into Sophie's window. She jerked backward, and the rocker slipped off the edge of her oval rag rug.

The girl dilly-dallied after the boys, in twos and threes, cupping their mittened hands over their mouths and giggling. Sophie wonder if they were telling each other about the valentines they had received at school. One pretty girl with long brown hair stopped and pointed to her face behind the drapes, suddenly self-consious. When she looked out again, the boys and girls were gone. It was cold by the window, but she stayed there watching the snow conver the children's footprints

A florist's truck turned onto Allen Street. Sophie followed it with her eyes. It was moving slowly. Twice it stopped and started again. Then the driver pulled up in front of Mrs. Mason's house next door and parked.Who would be sending Mrs. Mason flowers? Sophie wondered. Her daughter in Wisconsin? Or her brother? No, her brother was very ill. It was probably her daughter. How nice of her.

Flowers made Sophie think of Joe and, for a moment, she let the aching memory fill her. Tomorrow was the fifteenth. Eight months since his death.

The flower mans was knocking at Mrs. Mason's front door. He carried a long white and green box and a clipboard. No one seemed to be answering. Of course! It was Friday - Mrs. Mason quilted at the church on Friday afternoons. the delivery man looked around, then started toward Sophie's house.

Sophie shoved herself out of the rocker and stood close to the drapes. The man knocked. Her hands trembled as she straightened her hair. She reached her front hall on the third knock.

"Yes?" she said, peering around a slightly opened door. "Good afternoon, ma'am," the man said loudly. "Would you take a delivery for your neighbor?"

"Yes," Sophie answered, pulling the door wide open. "Where would you like me to put them?" the man asked politely as he strode in.

"In the kitchen, please. On the table." The man looked big to Sophie. She could hardly see his face between his green cap and full beard. Sophie was glad he left quickly, and she locked the door after him.

The box was as long as the kitchen table. Sophie drew near to it and bent over to read the lettering: "NATALIE'S Flowers for Every Occasion." The rich smell of roses engulfed her. She closed her eyes and took slower breaths, imagining yellow roses. Joe had always chosen yellow. "To my sunshine," he would say, presenting the extravagant bouquet. He would laugh delightedly, kiss her on the forehead, then take her hands in his and sing to her "You Are My Sunshine."

It's was five o'clock when Mrs. Mason knocked at Sophie's front door. Sophie was still at the kitchen table. The flower box was now open though, and she held the roses on her lap, swaying slightly and stroking the delicate yellow petals. Mrs. Mason knocked again, but Sophie did not hear her, and after several minutes the neighbour left.

Sophie rose a little while later, laying the flowers on the kitchen table. Her cheeks were flushed. She dragged a stepstool across the kitchen floor and lifted a white porcelain vase from the top corner cabinet. Using a drinking glass, she filled the vase with water, then tenderly arranged the roses and greens, and carried them into the sitting room.

She was smiling as she reached the middle of the room. She turned slightly and began to dip and twirl in small slow circles. She stepped lightly, gracefully, around the sitting room, into the kitchen, down the hall, back again. She danced till her knees grew weak, and then she dropped into the armchair and slept.

At a quarter past six, Sophie awoke with a start. Someone was knocking on the back door this time. It was Mrs. Mason.

"Hello, Sophie," Mrs. Mason said. "How are you? I knocked at five and was a little worried when you didn't come. Were you napping?" She chattered as she wiped her snowy boots on the welcome mat and stepped inside. "I just hate snow, don't you? The radio says we might have six inches by midnight, but you can never trust them, you know. Do you remember last winter when they predicted four inches, and we hand twenty-one? Twenty-one! And they said we'd have a mild winter this year. Ha! I don't think it's been over zero in weeks. Do you know my oil bill was $263 last month? For my little house!"

Sophie was only half-listening. She had remembered the roses suddenly and was turning hot with shame. The empty flower box was behind her on the kitchen table. What would she say to Mrs. Mason?

"I don't know how much longer I can keep paying the bills. If only Alfred, God bless him, had been as careful with money as your Joseph. Joseph! Oh, good heavens! I almost forgot about the roses."
Sophie's cheeks burned. She began to stammer an apology, stepping aside to reveal the empty box.

"Oh, good," Mrs. Mason interrupted. "You put the roses in water. Then you saw the card. I hope it didn't startle your to see Joseph's handwriting. Joseph had asked me to bring you the roses the first year, so I could explain for him. He didn't want to alarm you. His 'Rose Trust,' I think he called it. He arranged it with the florist last Apirl. Such a good man, your Joseph..."

But Sophie had stopped listening. Her heart was pounding as she picked up the small white envelope she had missed earlier. It had been lying beside the flower box all this time. With trembling hands, she removed the card.

"To my sunshine," it said. "I love you with all my heart. Try to be happy when you think of me. Love, Joe."