• Leaves

    The leaf falls lightly off the tree. The last one I'll ever see. I don't want to die...not like this, not so young. My life is fading...no.
    Tears run down my pale cheeks. "No!" I scream.
    He runs into the room. "Rose! Are you in pain? What's wrong?"
    The tears come faster. "It's nothing." A kiss on my lips. "I'm fine, I promise."
    He smiles, then walks out of the room. My love, I'm so sorry. You are forced to watch me fade away, like the leaves on the tree.
    I look out of my bedside window. I can see the street. People on their daily strolls; going some place, coming from another. I will never be able to walk those streets again.
    That leaf, it was the last one on the tree outside my window. That tree and I have a lot in common; we are both dying. It's dying from the cold also, but for me it's more than just the cold weather. I sigh deeply, then continue to look out the window.
    My love, he's going some where, but where? Maybe to get my medicine? No the drug store is surely closed, it's passed the time. He looks both ways, then crosses the street. Where could he be going? The drug store isn't that way. Where?
    "Mother, can you come in here?"
    She gracefully glides into the room. "Are you in pain, Rose?"
    "No. I was wondering if you knew where..." I begin coughing.
    "Lie down, Rose."
    I obey.
    "And no, I don't know where the boy went to."
    "Thank you anyway."
    "I'm going to get you some hot tea."
    "Not too hot this time."
    She smiles. "Alright." She smiles again then walks out of the room. I turn back to the window.
    Where is my beloved? I want him to come back to me.
    I guess that's selfish of me, wanting him to spend time with me. Maybe he went to see his friends. Yes that must be it. I smile. Mother walks back into the room carrying a silver tray. On top of it sits a blue tea cup with a black rose on it; my favorite cup.
    "Here you are Rose."
    "Thanks. Mom."
    She smiles. I pick up the cup and begin to drink. The tea is warm, not too hot, not too cold; it's just perfect.
    "I think he went to see another girl."
    I cough, almost choking on the tea. "What was that?"
    She turns her back to me. "I saw him the other day," she says in a hushed tone, "with a girl."
    "A girl?"
    "They where walking together, going into Mr. Newmans's Shop."
    "The jewelry store?"
    "Yes."
    "Why would he be going there with her?"
    "To buy a ring."
    I almost drop the cup. "A...ring." My heart drops. Could it be...my love is in love with another. No, it can't be.
    "You should just give up on him. He's giving up on you." She walks out of the room shaking her head.
    Tears run down my face. No...it...it...it can't be. My love, my everything. He loves me, or he did. No! He's not with her! He doesn't love her! Where are you, my love! Please don't let it be true. I know I am fading away, but that doesn't mean that my love for you is fading also.
    I set the cup on my night stand, and then lie back. We fell in love when the tree was still green; now it is dying. Is that our love? Is it dying also? Don't leave me just yet; please, you're the only thing that keeps me alive.
    I wipe the tears away. Maybe it is best he moves on. I only have a short time left in this world. Why hold him back from a new love and life? I sigh. I won't hold him back any longer.
    I glance out the window. He's coming back. Should I just tell him how I feel? Say that I know about the girl? What should I do?
    Knock. Knock.
    "Are you feeling any better, Rose?"
    I hold back tears. "Yes, I am." A kiss on the cheek this time.
    "I'm sorry I left, I had a few errands to run."
    "It’s alright." I bite my bottom lip, still holding in tears.
    "Is there something wrong, Rose?" Tears stream down my face. "Rose, what's wrong?" "I think you should leave me."
    "What?"
    "Leave and never come back."
    "I don't understand."
    "I never want to see you again."
    "Rose...why?"
    "You'll be happy with someone else."
    "Rose."
    "You'll be happy with her."
    "Her?"
    "That girl...my mother saw you with."
    "Rose...no."
    "Just go! Don't ever come back!"
    He doesn't move at first.
    "Rose..."
    "Go!"
    He gets up and walks out of the room.
    "My love..." I close my eyes and drift off into a sleep.
    I'm woken up by my mother.
    "How are you feeling Rose?"
    I don't answer. My heart is still broken from yesterday.
    "He came by this morning. He left you this letter." She tosses a letter on my bed, then walks out of the room. I open the letter and begin to read.

    Rose,
    Never once did I question my love for you. I knew in my heart that you were the one I wanted to spend my life with. Yesterday you broke my heart when you said you never wanted to see me again. I never wanted to leave your side, even after I learned about your illness. I love you, Rose, and no one could ever change that. Not you, not me, and not your mother. I love you, Rose, and I'll love you until the end of time. If you never wish to see me again then I understand. I will keep my distance. We will never see each other again...
    and the girl you saw me with yesterday was my sister.

    Love you forever,
    Leaves