Valentines Day

I was siting on a park bench one day, and noticed
an older lady walk to the bench across from me. In her hand I saw she carried a
single red rose.

"Waiting for her husband I bet." I thought
silently to myself, returning to my book. That's when I heard her laugh, and
then I noticed she was talking to someone.  Although, looking around, there was
no one near us.

Moments passed, as I watched as she would laugh in
delight and continue to talk to this person,  who was not there.  She was still
having a good time talking, she would stop and listen and then make a comment
and she would laugh like she had heard something funny. "Alzheimer's" I thought
this time.  Watching her I became worried that she may have wandered away from
her family or something like that.

Out of concern I approached her, "Excuse me ma'am,
but are you OK?"

 She looked up at me, smiled and stated "Yes my
dear, I'm fine..." after a near embarrassed pause she continued, "I see you
notice that I'm not talking to anyone.  Well Hun, you see she is here... but
only in spirit, and yes I laugh at her comments, that contunue to echo in my
head."  She moved aside on the bench offering me a space.  "Here my dear, please
sit and I will explain.  Hopefully you will not think me crazy." Smiling I sat
beside her.

"It started on this bench, almost fifty years ago
today.  Yes, Valentines day. You see back then it wasn't at all acceptable to be
in love with some of the same sex."  She smiled a smile that was filled
with secrets.  "I was married and all proper, and she was the same. We met here
by accident, innocently enough and started talking.  It wasn't long before we
found out that we had so much in common and both felt the same way about our
sexuality. Well my dear we started to meet.  Here.  On a regular basis and
became fast friends. We would talk, laugh, and cry together.

One day, we both realized that we loved each
other; but we could not be together.  At the time it was proper, you know? So we
would meet when we could; in seedy hotels rooms, and when we could steal away
from our husbands.  It was very hard.  She and her husband moved and we didn't
see each other for some time.  Too long.  Hun, then one day she called and said
she was in town, and if I could meet her at our park bench?  I almost ran all
the way there. I saw her, she was sitting and waiting.  She had one red rose for
me. She told me her husband had passed away and was moving back to town.  She
asked if I still wanted to see her. I gushed, "yes oh my yes!"  Well to keep you
from sitting here all day I will shorten my story some, my dear. We went right
back to our secret meetings and meeting here on this bench

Then one day I came to our bench and she was
crying. I said, "My love what is wrong?"

She looked at me and whispered."My precious loved
one, I am dying.  The doctor told me today.  I have cancer.  And it is too
late.  I only have a few months left." We held each other and cried.  I am sure
it was a site.

Well, we made it to Valentine's and met here on
this bench. She was so weak and frail, Hun.  She gave me a rose like she always
did. And leaned in and gave me a kiss, my dear... and then she was gone. I was
alone.  My husband had passed the year before, and I had just lost my one true
love.

I vowed, that I would be here.  Every Valentine's
day.  I would talk to her; bring her a rose.  So... that is why I'm here, my
dear.  You see it was 10 years ago today she left me.  I never miss a
Valentine's day."  And with that; the woman got up and slowly walked off.  I was
left there with tears streaming down my face. It was the most touching thing I
had ever heard.  Standing, I wiped my eyes, and walked home. When I arrived I
told my partner about the elderly woman and the rose. Working hard, and failing,
as I retold her story once more.

Another year has passed. I was at the park and sat
at the bench across from where the lady had sat. I waited and waited, but she
never came. Just as I was getting ready to go; a grounds-keeper came up to
me.

 His voice gruff in the evening air.  "Miss are
you waiting for the lady with the rose?"

"I am," I said, smiling.

"Miss I hate to tell you this, but she died last
year.  On this very day.  You see she was my mother.  I knew the whole story, I
even went as far as always make sure she got here okay.  She never saw me.  I
noticed you last year, and I seen how it had affected you; well, I thought you
might be here.  So I took a chance.  I see you have a rose."  He pulled one from
his back pocket, "so do I.  Would you like to place them on their bench?  I know
she would love that. You see Miss, I miss her so much, and you were so nice to
her. I would love for you to honor her with me."

We place our roses on their bench, I shook his
hand, and walked off. I had not walked very far when I turned to look back,
pulled by a force beyond myself.  I saw two young women hugging on the bench
each with a rose. I turned back, clearly I had imagined it.  When I stopped and
looked back again, they were gone and so were the roses.  This will always be my
favorite Valentine's Day.  I believe that I had witnessed the two lovers
reunited for all eternity.