Yellow Roses

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying

groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 7 years

was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and

look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot

him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands. He

knew I loved yellow roses.

With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and

leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed

on. Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for

two. Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and

remembered how he had loved his steak.

Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde,
slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a
large pack of T-bones, dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then
put them back.. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack
of steaks. She saw me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves

T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don't know." I swallowed the emotion
down my throat and met her pale blue eyes. "My husband passed away
eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought

to control the tremble in my voice. "Buy him the steaks. And cherish every
moment you have together. "She shook her head and I saw the emotion in
her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of
the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which
size milk I should buy. Quart, I finally decided and moved on to the
ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone. I
put it in the cart, and looked down the aisle toward the front.
I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming
towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the

brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her

blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.
As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my
eyes. "These are for you," she said and placed three beautiful long
stemmed yellow roses in my arms. "When you go through the line, they
will know these are paid for." She leaned over placed a gentle kiss on my
cheek, I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the
roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away
as tears clouded my vision. I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled
in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost! unreal. How did she know?
Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone.. Oh, you haven't
forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was
still with me, and she was his angel. Every day be thankful for what you
have and who you are.