Gift of a Lifetime

A classmate called to tell her about his death.
She asked about the day and time of the
church services and burial and where held.
Both would take place in their hometown.

Packing for the trip she placed the 'gift' in
the large empty purse The day of the
service found her at the cemetery, just over
a knoll and behind a tree, waiting for his
family to arrive with his remains.

After burial and the many flowers placed
on his grave everyone left allowing her
to walk slowly to the grave and stand there.
It had been over 40 years since the night he
gave her a special gift, one long treasured
and kept. Sadly, within two years he was
married to a girl who captured his heart.
Eventually he took over her father's firm
and went on to father several children.

Taking the 'gift' when she moved to a
city where she met and married a good
man. Her life had been filled with love
and a family while clinging to the 'gift'
as a reminder of a deep first love.

She knew that she must do this and
clear him from her life. Kneeling down,
she kissed the 'gift' and placed it with
the flowers about where his heart might
have been. For a lifetime moment she
lived again the night of their high school
prom and his giving her the white corsage,
now so long preserved.

She wondered what his widow might think
if it were discovered, and smiled in the
belief that his woman would understand.


F William Broome 2009