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 she was. 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 she was. 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
10 comments:
Oh my... was so touching and heart warming story indeed.. it reminds me of how we often act that way sporadically. You know the impulse to run and hide from reality each time we have some squabbles with our love ones. And wept over once we missed the opportunity to fix things quickly.
Hi Calleigh,
Yes, you are right. I emphasize the word fiction in this short story because my personal life is so detached from this story. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you always.
a very powerful story. reminding us of our mortality and how we should live our lives, that is spend each moment expressing our love to our family. let's not waste time arguing with our loved ones, let them know how important they are to us, after all, we never know how long we will be with them..
Hi Kim,
Yes, I agree with you. Quarreling will only waste our precious time. Let us learn to express love to our loved ones while we are still here. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you always.
Nice story.......kahit paano ay mahalaga ang bulaklak sa tao.....minsan pa nga kung ano ang pag alaga sa tao ay ganun din sa bulaklak....lalo na iyong mga bulaklak na paninda..sobrang pag aalaga..
Hi Arvin,
Thanks for the compliment but as always, TO GOD BE THE GLORY. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you always.
It's a very heart warming story Sir Mel, nakakanginig ng kalamnan diba pero i wish nababasa ito ng mga husband para naman. Iba iba kasi ang story ng buhay, minsan yung story sa iban hndi pwedi maging storya ng buhay mo. but this story will serve as inspiration or wake up call maybe
Thank you for this beautiful and inspirational story. Na-touched ako. I got the message that we should never waste our time with anger. As much as we can, we should let our loved ones know that we love them. Naalala ko tuloy yung nangyari dun sa batang actor na na-aksidente recently :( Di mo po talaga hawak ang buhay mo. It was a very sad.. Ingat po kayo.
Hi Shy,
It's just a fiction short story and does not in anyway relates to reality in my life. Yes, each person has his own perspective in life. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you all always.
Hi Bambie dear,
I agree with you. Anger should never reign in one's relationship. Too bad for that young actor. He died at a very young age of 19 only. Thanks for your visit and comments. God bless you all always.
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