Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Thirteen Flowers (A Short Story - FICTION)



It was just like yesterday when I had an argument with my wife and we had a falling out. I had to get out of the house to simmer down. As I was walking in the park, I saw a flower, a red one standing at the edge of the park. I was mesmerized by it that I found myself going out there to pick it up. What kind of flower was this? It was gorgeous and the color was crimson red, just like my blood. As I picked it up I thought of my wife. How lovely was she. It was just like yesterday when I married her and we had a turbulent relationship. We had our shares of quarrels but somehow, we managed to patch things up. And today was just like any other day that we had a spat.

As I looked at the flower, my anger seemed to have vanished and I realized just how important she was to my life. Ah, I'm going back to her and fix our relationship. I could not really go on with my life without her. And the children, they need a father to bring them up as wonderful kids. How foolish of me to run out of my house. Hah, I'm going back and straighten everything out. And I promise to God that I will never quarrel with my wife again. Life is more bearable with her charming presence around.

The house was in disarray. Everything seemed in topsy turvey. Rows of flowers lined the entrance to the house. It was so bright inside. People were milling around. Stifled cries can be heard outside. I saw familiar faces in the house. My father was there and so was my mother. I saw faces of my friends and relatives there. They were all there. Must be some sort of a reunion I guessed. Then I saw my wife. How lovely was she. She was wearing a white gown. And I saw my children, their faces ashen and sad. How I missed them all. I will tell them how much I love them.

I approached my wife and gave her the flower that I have. And she placed it with the other flowers in a big vase. I counted them all. Twelve white flowers and mine was the thirteenth, one that stand out in crimson red.

Everything became so eerie. Something's wrong. Suddenly, I realized that my father and mother were dead and so do all the relatives and friends that I saw there. They were all dead. My God don't tell me that my wife and children are all dead too.

Everything seemed to whirl around me. Flashes of darkness and light kept flickering all around me. My body stiffened and I could sense a vague light penetrating my eyes. Then voices occupied the peripheries of my mind. He's coming into. He is breathing. He is alive. I saw people milling all around me. And I saw the loveliest face that ever beheld my eyes. It was my beautiful wife, as she hugged me with all her might. And I saw my children milling around me, all crying unabashedly. What happened? I asked timidly. You were ran over by a car and you were brought here in the hospital already dead. The doctors tried to revive you and it's only now that you were revived.

And I saw the red flower that she held in her hand. Where did you get that, I asked? I got it from you. You were clutching this flower as though your life depended on it. Ah, freedom at last. I have been given back a new leash on life.


Posted by Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Literary/Short Story

31 comments:

Arthur said...

Uff Mel, too good it was you, 'cause if it was me, the Third World War would start.

But anyways, arguments are bad, if it's anyone it's bad, so forget I said too good it was you. I said it 'cause if it really was me, the Third World War would start.

Too good you could fix this situation. I'm glad.

And I'm also glad finally I'm the first to leave you a comment.

Big greetings and big hugs

Sweet Dreams, from the bottom of my Heart:
Arthur

Gusthav said...

Uff Mel, every couple have some arguments sometimes. Even my parents have had some arguments, but finally they fix it (sometimes Arthur's Mother helps us).

I'm also glad you could fix your argument.

Greetings and hugs

Nice Day, with my whole soul:
Gusthav

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Arthur,
You are most welcome to my blog and thanks for your comments. I monitored your post at WUB and its a good music. I liked it. God bless you and your family always. Yes, let there be peace in our world.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Gusthav,
I could not understand. There was no argument with Arthur or anyone. I would never argue with you both. You are both my friend. There must be a mistake somewhere. Anyway, thanks for your visit and your comments. God bless you and your family always.

Keshi said...

arguments r good for the soul...u need to argue to learn lessons in life. No real r'ship is arguments-less.

great post!

Keshi.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Keshi,
Ha, ha, ha, There was no real argument. It's a short story, a fiction. Most probably you just read the top portion of the post so that you did not get the gist of the story. I was also intrigued by the comments of Arthur and Gusthav. Well, the post said short story and that means it's fiction. Anyway, thanks for the visit but you just missed an intriguing story if you did not read it in its entirety. God bless you and your family.

Anonymous said...

well that's love. Without having a fight, there's no excitement..lols..
I sometimes ask my husband to have some fight because I really cannot remember when was our last fight that gave me such a terrible heart ache.. Now it's getting boring ...lols,.......

Anonymous said...

hi Mel I sometime think if you are really comfortable reading my money blog...You should visit my other blog instead as I stop doing paid reviews there...More on my daily thoughts..like a personal online diary like yours

Mississippi Songbird said...

Great post.. Have a good day, Mel!
Bunches of hugs!

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Tey,
I did not have an argument with my wife. That was just a fiction short story. Well anyway, thanks for your visit and comments. I visit your money making blog since I do the rounds everyday to increase the traffic in my blog. Since you don't often post on your Christian blog, I visit your commercial blog and leave comments there just to show you I dropped by. Anyway, I learn so many things from your commercial posts. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you and your family always.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Mississippi Songbird,
Thanks for your usual visit. I really appreciate that my friend. God bless you and your family always.

krystyna said...

Hi Mel!
You love your wife very much, so even your fiction story shows it.
Very nice written. Try more... short story.
God bless you and your family!

ceedy said...

Love is in the air.....sir you need to visit your wife...and give her a real red flower :)

have a great day

Emmyrose said...

That's very sweet Bro.Mel. Thank you for sharing this.

God bless you and your family always.

Noushy Syah said...

HI MEL
A nice meaningful story even it's fiction...you wrote it short and simple.That is amazing...coz there's lesson learnt there...of compromising, give and take in a relationship.

The power of love is deeply shown by the good ending - both from her and HIM.

Good posting Mel..keep up the good writing.Hope you have a gr8 w/end and may God bless you always.

Take care.

Sameera Ansari said...

That was simply awesome Mel!I just loved it :)

You are getting better with every story.This was so touching and teaches one a valuable lesson about how not to take our loved ones for granted.

Take care my dear friend.Have a great weekend.May God Bless You and your loved ones always.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Krystyna,
Yes I love my wife so much and we never had a major argument all our lives. She's so good and kind and gentle that I don't think I will ever argue with her. In fact, I can search the whole world over and I can never find another one like her. I'm just saddened that people just don't read long articles. I understand them though since we have to blog hop to so many blogs to reciprocate their visits to our blogs. Thanks you so much for your visit and your kind comments. God bless you and your family always.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Ceedy,
I can't visit her and give her a red flower because she's in the States working for us. I just hope she reads this blog. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you and your family always.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi sis Emmyrose,
Thanks for the wonderful comments and for your visit. I truly appreciate that. God bless you and your family always.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Noushy,
I'm so sorry that I cannot visit other blogs for the moment since our internet server is working improperly. Must be the virus again since my kids love to download games from the internet. Anyway, I really appreciate your visit here and your usual considerate comments. I will be visiting you soon as our internet connection becomes regular. I hope you are doing well in London and are in the best of health. God bless you and your family always my friend.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Sameera,
I'm so sorry that I was not able to visit your blog lately since we're having some problems with our internet connections. Thanks for your wonderful comments. I really appreciate that. Coming from you, I take that as a wonderful compliment. I notice though that most readers do not read long post so I am experimenting on posting shorter articles. How are you doing in Dubai? I hope you are doing well and in the best of health. I pray for your welfare and happiness my dear friend. God bless you and your family always.

heiresschild said...

hi Mel, haven't been around too much lately, but wanted to come back and say hi, and i hope things are well with you and your family.

Mona said...

That is such a sweet story. Life is precious & short. We must not waste it in quarreling!

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Heiresschild,
We're okay, no problem with us. It's alrtight if you are quite busy right now. I don't mind if you fail to visit my blog from time to time. Do attend to the pressing commitments you may have right now. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you and your family always.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Mona,
Thanks for your visit and wonderful comments. Yes, there are no real arguments involved. It was only in the short story. God bless you and your family always.

krystyna said...

I didn't mention that this flower is very beautiful. Great pic/s.

And your comments are very inspiring too.

God bless you and your lovely wife, and your kids!

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Krystyna,
It is always a pleasure to see your name in my comment section. I know that I have a loyal and faithful friend in you. God bless you more for that. Thanks again for your visit and for your very kind comments. God bless you and your family always.

Aura said...

Hi Mel
Im coming from Amrita´s site..
Just want to say hello and to tell you i enjoyed this beautiful love story..
I guess quarrels and arguments are part of our married life..Hubby and i never go to bed without patching up our misunderstandings.
Just learn to forgive and forget what had been said and done.
God Bless!!
Aura

Unbalanced Libra said...

Hello!
Contact me and tell me which blog of yours you'd like me to have listed on my blog.
Add my link on your blog.

The Life of an Unbalanced Libra
URL: http://www.unbalancedlibra.com

Thank you and love and peace to you and yours

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

Hi Unbalanced Libra,
Thanks for your visit and for your comments. My blog that I want to link with yours is Random Thoughts- International Blog. I'm having a problem with my edit page (add on pages) since it became shortened and I cannot have access to my blog roll to edit it. I've tried to delete some boxes to make it appear again to no avail. I am contacting the help group of this web site and I will be including your blog to my blog roll as soon as the problem is fixed. In the meantime, I am accessing you through Link Referral so I can access you anytime. Thanks again and God bless you all.

Mel Avila Alarilla said...

HI Aura,
Sorry, I skipped your comments. Thanks for cominmg over and commenting on my post. I really appreciate that. Sorry again for my mistake. God bless you always.


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