And the years flew like butterflies in an open meadow. Patricia sat there on her antique rocking chair, still waiting and hoping. Her rocking chair faced the front of the lawn. She ordered the rocking chair to be placed there with hopes that she would be able to see him in his full uniform when he comes back from the war.
The word ‘war’ made her wept dried tears that she wept years ago. She couldn’t afford to weep another tear for the war that had taken David from her in what seemed like eons ago. She remembered with perfect recall how handsome David looked in his uniform. He was so eager to fight for his country.
She wasn’t so eager. She knew how dangerous war zones can be. She wished to bottom of her heart that David didn’t have to leave her and she would still see him despite the raging war. Who cares about some stupid war? No matter what she said or how she pleaded, he still had to go.
She prayed that her endless love- which could bring the world to its knees- was enough to keep Dave safe and sound. Every second of the day, her heavy heart wondered where he was and how is he holding. And she spent every second of the day praying that love was enough to keep him safe.
She sat there on the rocking chair, motionless and oblivious to the world. Once in a while, she would whip her head to look at the antique but charming grand piano behind her. She could her faint music from it that came from her memories of Dave playing. The heavenly music never left.
Everyday, the music would start swimming in the room as soon as she sat on her rocking chair. She would turn to find that the room was empty with nothing but her, the rocking chair and the grand piano. She knew that Dave was playing, far away, to assure her that everything was fine and he was well.
She would reminisce how his huge fingers would move smoothly to create a music that was out of this world. The music she heard when he was playing can only be heard in the Heaven. He would play and at the end of each song he would reach out for her hand and kiss her.
His kisses were sweet, sweeter than honey. Then he would caress her hair and murmur words to tell her how much he loved her. She sighed. The memories never failed to flood back like a gushing stream every time she sees a thing that had something to do with Dave. What wouldn’t she give to have his hands around her now?
She looked to find that the clouds are orange now. How fast time flies when she thought of him. She reminded of their first kiss. They kissed in a meadow and the sun was setting and the bird-who were returning home- chirped as tough they loved to see them together.
Something made her rubbed her eyes hard with the back of her hands and shook her head. Perhaps the medications that her physician gave had a side effect of hallucination. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She was seeing Dave returning for the war. He was wearing the very same uniformed he left with.
He was carrying nothing but a charming smile that left her breathless for the first time in so many years and a beautiful yellow rose. Yellow roses meant love everlasting. He had some weird light that trailed behind him. His face was glowing and radiant. He walked slowly and Patricia wanted to run but something pulled her back.
He stood there in front of her and asked in his deep voice, “Are you willing to give everything up just to be with me, Patty”. She looked into his violent blue eyes and found all the answers to her questions. “Anything and everything”, she whispered. “Then come with me, my love”, he tugged her.
The weight that pulled her down just now felt effortless. There was nothing holding her now with the exception of Dave’s warm hand. She took a step forward and felt different. She felt as though she shouldn’t be walking, she should be flying. “Is anything wrong, love?” Dave asked with his eyebrows up.
“Nothing when I’m with my soul mate and the person who owns my heart and soul” she answered. He smiled and left her breathless again. With the smile, she let go of all her fears and doubts. In fact, she let go of everything but him. Then she found herself and walked with Dave to a place not even I know of.
As she walked towards the skies, she looked back to find her aged and wrinkled body lifeless on the rocking chair she spent so long on. Her body was old and wrinkled but her soul was young and the both of them looked exactly how they looked like in their twenties. It was worth the wait, she told herself as she walked hand in hand with Dave.
The young maid who was assigned to take care of the aged Mrs. Young went to find the old lady for her dinner. She found her mistress sitting on the rocking chair as usual. The only different thing was that the chair wasn’t rocking in its usual rhythm. She touched Patricia’s hand and found it was warmer than usual.
She shook the old lady gently, hoping to wake her from her nap. But then she found out that Patricia will never wake up again. She wanted to weep her heart out for the kind old lady had left the world but something told her that Patricia was with Dave and she is very contend to be there with her soul mate.
She called the butler and together they arranged for a cremation as they were ordered by the late Mrs. Patricia Young, wife of Lieutenant Young who died in war. Then they sent her urn to the skies with a small firework. When the firework exploded, her ashes were scattered in the skies with the stars. Somehow, the stars were brighter that night than they have ever seen.
