Flowers

A person reminiscing about flowers another person had given them.

I still remember the first flower you gave me. It was a red orchid. Gosh, I remember how I spent my time searching for their meanings. Looking upon books and books. There were so many meanings—how was I supposed to know what you meant?

Then the next flower came—a red carnation. It was a beautiful flower, yet what was the meaning? I placed it on my study table next to the first flower you gave me. I was always able to admire it.

I thought that would be the end of it until you gave me another flower. This time it was a bluebell. I thought you simply enjoyed giving gifts to me. I, of course, admired it. I placed it next to the first two flowers you gave me.

As time went on, you continued to give me flowers. I was clueless to their meanings. My table was starting to get covered full of flowers. Some were dying, yet you replaced each dying one with a new one.

More flowers came. At this point, my house was starting to look like a flower shop. There were pots of flowers. I didn't mind at all though. I enjoyed receiving your gifts, even if I didn't know what they meant.

I still remember the last flower you gave me—a red rose. That was when the realization hit me. I wished you would have told me sooner. I wished you would have been confident enough to tell me. How was I supposed to know?

I went to a flower shop and bought many flowers. I had an idea of which flower you would want. I still had to ask the owner for help with their meanings.

I walked and walked until I had reached my destination. I sat down in front of you and placed my 15 roses in front of you. Roses had always been your favorite.

I talked to you about many things, things that had happened in my life. As the hours passed, I knew it was time to go. It was starting to get dark. I stood up, leaving the flowers with you. Tears were spilling down my eyes.

As I turned to walk away, I glanced back at you one more time. You looked beautiful against the fields of flowers, something you would have wanted.

As I made my way out of the cemetery, I made a promise to myself—to learn about the meaning of flowers.