One Rose Changed My Life
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes, 3 seconds
Love is Powerful, Magical,
and Never Dies!
I have always had a fondness for flowers, even though I may have unintentionally killed more of them by underwatering or neglect than those that have survived under my care. However, my indoor plants are doing well as I approach my second anniversary of living in Apartment 3B. I have been buying and placing bouquets on the counter before my sink. When I return home, seeing these small and beautiful flowers greeting me is a welcoming sight.
As we enter April, the raindrops fall, but we have flowers blooming in March in full glory. This season reminds me of a particular moment when a rose changed everything. It was the day I met Jan, and I decided to do a sunrise run for some essentials – milk, bagels, and cream cheese. As I stepped out of the bagel shop, I caught sight of a bodega just a few steps away. In the window display, I saw a basket of beautiful roses – their petals soft and delicate, with hues of pink and red. I walked over and picked a red one out – it was perfect. As I stepped inside, I noticed they also had a collection of greeting cards. The rose and the card were just what I needed to make my first morning with Jan memorable.
As I walked down the aisle, my eyes landed on a colorful card featuring Snoopy typing in scrambled letters on the roof of his doghouse. The front of the card had the words “I know I like you!” written in bold letters. Intrigued, I picked up the card and opened it to find a blank space waiting for a message.
With the rose and a card, I leaned on the Lotto table and found a pen to sign the card. After opening the card, I wanted to write a heartfelt message. Two competing voices argued in my mind: “Don’t scare Jan,” and “Follow your heart.” I briefly listened to both and changed the word “like” to “love.” Even if it meant risking rejection, I wanted to be honest with Jan. As I entered the courtyard, the saying that honesty is always the best policy came to mind.
As I approached the door, I could feel my heart racing with anticipation. I took a deep breath and knocked, and a few moments later, the door slowly creaked open. And there Jan was – the most stunning woman I had ever seen. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds in the light, and her smile was warm and inviting.
“I wasn’t sure if you would come back,” Jan exclaimed, and I could sense a hint of nervousness in her voice. But then, as she looked down at the rose I had brought her, her face lit up with joy. “No one has ever given me a rose. Thank you!” she said, her voice filled with gratitude and surprise.
At that moment, I knew I had made the right choice by buying the rose. When I opened my mouth to respond, a rush of words filled my mind. “You might have a problem getting me to leave,” I said with a playful grin, “but you’ll never have a problem with me returning to you.”
Jan didn’t have a vase for the rose, so she got a glass. We placed it on the kitchen table. As she turned to get her coffee, I took the card from my jacket and put it on the table next to her chair.
“I have something for you,” I said, handing her the card. She looked at me quizzically and asked, “Is this for me?” I nodded in response, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness. As she began to open the card, I stood by my chair, ready to leave if her reaction was adverse. I had experienced too many rejections, and the thought of being rejected once again made me uneasy. She opened the envelope and pulled out the card. I watched as she read it, wondering what she was thinking. Finally, she looked up at me, and I thought I saw hesitation in her eyes.
Jan and I stood before each other, peering deeply into each other’s eyes. Jan whispered, “Me too. I love you,” her voice quivering with emotion. At that moment, we both knew we had discovered something extraordinary. We hugged each other tightly, not wanting to let go. Our lips locked in a deep and passionate kiss that made my heart skip a beat. It was more intense than any kiss we had shared before, a sweet and lovely moment that seemed to last forever. I felt like I was flying, caught up in the moment’s magic. This kiss would have knocked my socks off if I hadn’t worn my boots. It was a moment that cemented our love forever, a beautiful memory we would treasure for the rest of our lives. True love is rare and unique, and I recall reading about how some people’s souls are split at birth and reunited when they find the one with the other half of their soul.
As our lips met, an overwhelming surge of emotions flooded me, unlike any I had ever felt. At that very moment, I knew that this kiss had sealed our love forever, and our souls were reunited. It felt like all my dreams of true love had come to life, and I was finally experiencing it in its purest form. This experience made me realize how one single rose can change our lives when that love is an eternal force that never ceases to exist.
If you liked this post, you should read When Richard Met Jan, written two years ago.
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After almost 48 years, I recently lost my wife, Jan Lilien. Like The Little Prince, Jan and I believed that “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.” This blog is a collection of my random thoughts on love, grief, life, and all things considered.
