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you got to hear this
DREAM ROSE By:LinnBelle
copywright 1995
Published by the Southeast Writers Association
as:Linda JO Bell
Awakened
from a fretful sleep again, cold and sweaty, from the same dream that has plagued me for nights. Rising from bed, I looked
at the clock: 2 am. Great! Why should I worry, I didn't have to go to work. Putting on the coffee pot, making myself a cup,
I pieced together the short dream I knew by heart:
In driving home from work I crossed Main Street, just as a wreck was
happening. From the reckage, a man was thrown from the car --to land across my windshield. His face was so plain, being ,
against the window, cut and bleeding. Getting pulled from my car, I was calmed by some friends. Short and sweet.
And
as I awoke, I saw one perfect rose! My dream was eerie, but I didn't feel fear. Instead, peace. Why couldn't I shake it? I
opened the newspaper and pondered over the want ads again, thinking of the past. I had been on my own since sixteen, parents
and sister killed in a wreck. I moved out of the city to this small town, where everyone knew you. Here I was jobless, without
a boy friend. Twenty-five and gettin nowhere.Maybe I should just be moving on again.
I Showered and dressed. with paper
in hand. I started job hunting again. In such a small town, there wasn't much available. At lunch time I found a park bench
and sat down to eat. While I looked at the paper, someone sat down beside me. Looking up at him, he introduced himself as
Brandon Thomas.
When he asked I told him my name was Lil1y. He rambled on how he couldn't resist such a pretty day, and
how he loved to sit and watch the clouds. He pointed up. "See there? That looks like a man smoking a pipe. If you look
long enough you see the clouds take form." He was right. I saw several things looking at different angles.
He noticed
the newspaper and asked if I was job hunting and what could I do. I answered that I was a secretary mostly. He told me the
construction company .he worked for needed a bookkeeper and secretary, and pointed out their ad I had overlooked. He offered
to walk me there. On the way we made small talk. He had lived here all his life, and it was a nice town if you gave it a chance.
We made plans to meet for supper at the cafe.
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Getting the
job, I felt great about myself. As I left the office, I saw the sign out front: ROSE CONSTRUCTION. I'm happy once again: I
had a good job, could afford my apartment. Met a new guy who gave me hope and self esteem. And I had more friends now. since
we met.Maybe it was because I was more confident,in myself,I was more at ease and more friendlier.
We spent our lunches
in the park,just looking at the clouds. whenever I told him how good I felt in knowing him,how I had changed since meeting
him.and how much I appreciated his help and understanding.He would always smile at me and say "Lilly love is in the heart,and
whenever you think of me,wherever you are,I'll be right there beside you,in your heart.
His other saying whenever I was
feeling blue, was."Lilly when you feel despair and dissapointment,look up into the clouds.Look and see what you can make
out of them.A star,a flower, or a car,or old man.You'll see the beauty of life.But just look up,push on,walk on."
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The months were kind to us,Winter came,then soon it was Spring.we were
iin love.I had felt blessed in knowing this man who was so wise, and so dear.We had plan to marry in June,we were in no hurry
and were happy just the way things were.Enjoying every minute life had to give us.
Then one cool spring day I was in
the park,I iwas wondering where Brandon was.
He usually called me to make sure I was up,and I hadn't seen him since the
night before when we saw a movie.I finished off lunch and hurried back to the office to see if he had checked in,he hadn't.Then
I tried calling him at home.But I only got a recording saying it was a non-working number.That was ridiculous I thought,I
had made the call hundreds of time.There was a package on my desk when I returned from my break.I opened it up to find one
beautiful red rose,it was perfect,and without thorns.
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There
was a note attatched which I read:
Dearest Lilly:
The time has come,that I must leave you.But don't
give up,walk on.Remember that as long as I'm in your heart,I'll be with you always.For it is better to have loved and lost,than
to never loved at all.
Love Brandon
I couldn't stop the tears that fell down my cheeks.As I dreid
them and tried to control my hurt I felt a breeze through my hair.But the room was still.
Later that afternoon I passed
a graveyard,that I had passed every evening going home.But this day I was willed to go inside.Walking among the stones,many
were of vetereans,one caught my eyes.I couldn't believe what I saw.But there etched in the marble stone was a picture of the
man from my dreams,with the facial scars and all.My heart took a leap when I read the inscription.
Brandon Thomas
born:Sept.3 1950 Died April 21 1978
It is better to have loved and lost,
Than to never have loved at all!
He had died ten years ago today.I couldn't believe my burning eyes.It
just couldn't be.It couldn't be so,this couldn't be the Brandon that I
knew and loved.But lovingly planted beside the
stone was a rose bush,with several bursting buds.But there was one broken stem as if someone had just picked one.
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Somehow I made it through the next few months.The day we had set for
our wedding,June 21st,I took off from work.I put fresh roses on the grave of the man I was sure I knew and had lunched with
in the park.
At the closing of the day I took the long way home.As the tears fell from my eyes,I realized they were not
unhappy tears,But ones of pleasure.But I flet lonesome and blue.
I felt the wind brush my hair,like Brandon had aften
done.I looked up into a wind that wasn't there,the air was still.I looked into the fluffy clouds,feeling as if I could touch
them.There in the clouds I found ..........One Perfect Rose without a thorn.
Smiling and wiping away my tears.I held my
head high and walked on.Though there was no need to,I whispered "thank you for making me stronger,and for teaching me
the wonder of love."
The End....................................
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