Piece of Soul.

He woke up before the alarm went off this morning. It was bright and sunny outside. He got fresh, had his coffee, and went to his room. Pulled out the tuxedo from the cupboard, brushed it and got dressed up. He fixed his hair, put on the watch and looked himself in the mirror. He tried smiling, but it felt weird.

He shrugged the feeling off, went downstairs, slipped into his black leather shoes, grabbed his car keys and headed out.

The neighborhood seemed quite silent for a weekend. "Guess summer vacation has driven most of the families out on family trips. Well, good for them" he murmured, as he took the next right and pulled into the parking lot of the local florist shop "Autumn's Florist Corner".

Emma has been running the place since he had moved in to the locality 2 years back, and her smile had never changed since the day they first met.

Emma - "Well well, look who's here. Good morning Brady. What brings you here so early on a Saturday morning?"

"Hey Emma..Good morning. Came to pick Jenny's bouquet."

"Oh! I completely forgot the date. It's THE day huh. Fresh flowers are back here, am yet to set them up , come on over, let's fix a bouquet for her" said Emma walking to the back of the store; her lemon yellow dress with large floral prints complemented the flowers around.

"Peruvian Lilies, Yellow tulips, White daisies and yeah couple of sunflowers" he said following her.

"Here let me add a few chamomile. She loves them. Do you need potted daffodils?" she asked brushing her curls off the forehead.

"Yeah get me a couple of those. Yellow and white" he said taking the bouquet from her.

"Here you go Brady. And tell her I will stop by in the noon. I will see you tonight okay?" she said at the billing counter, giving him a tight hug.

As Brady walked towards his car, Emma yelled from the door "You look charming Brady."

Brady smiled and hopped into his car. And George Strait's song played "Our love is unconditional, we knew it from the start" He smiled and hummed "I cross my heart and promise to give all I've got to give".

Another two signals, and he was there. He got off the car, collected the bouquet, the potted plants and the spade from the trunk, and walked towards the entrance.

He met a couple of familiar faces as he walked across the lawn, he nodded at them and went towards her. This tree seems slightly taller than I saw it last time he thought. As he walked across and reached her, he smiled, kissed her and said "Happy anniversary my love".

He kept the bouquet by her side, sat next to her, and started chatting about work, friends and life in general.

He got up and said "Let's plant these daffodils, the ones from last year dint make it through winter."

He removed his jacket, kept it aside, started shovelling the ground and planted the daffodils as he continued chatting.

"I never thought I would feel like this again. But with Emma, it's so effortless. I can talk anything and not feel awkward. It's like she always was a part of us although she knew you for just couple of months."

"You know, she looked pretty in yellow dress today. I love her smile Jenny. But I am nervous, she is the only person I have left around other than you, cannot afford to lose her. You think she will like me the way I like her?" he asked looking at her as he patted the soil.

The light breeze filled the place with the fragrance of lilies around him. He smiled and continued as he watered the plants "Well, she said she will come to meet you. Hey, will you whisper to her few good words about me? You know, be my wingman." he said smiling.

"I miss you Jenny. I still remember the day you met with the accident, just 3 days before our wedding." he paused looking at the sky.

"If it wasn't for Emma, I would have been lost. I believe you sent her as my guardian angel, thank you. It's her bday this Friday, am thinking of letting her know my feelings. I am really nervous, but I know you will help me. You have always walked with me." he said kissing the grave.

The headstone read "Jenny Chester - An angel on earth from 3-Mar-1994 to 6-April-2018"

"You took a piece of my soul with you Jenny and I will carry a piece of your soul to my grave. No matter who comes in my life, that won't change. I will see you next Sunday, Jenny. Wish me luck." He said as he picked his jacket.

He headed back to his car, the daffodils swaying in the wind, sun shining on his smiling face and wet eyes.

Comments

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