One Last Rose
Skipper held the rose in his flippers. Twirling the delicate flower around, he looked at it. Examined every last detail of the soft petals, and closing his eyes. No tears. He thought. It's been long enough… and Soldiers don't cry. Leaders don't cry… Skipper took a deep breath and exited the HQ. The members of the team giving him sympathetic glances as he left traces of his honor behind.
"Rose number 36…" He whispered. Slowly making his way along the zoo. He stopped and looked at the otter's habitat. Sweet Marlene… why did we have to part? He thought. You know how much I loved you… Skipper shook his head. No. They grew apart… that's all. It wasn't Skipper's fault they were separated now… It wasn't his fault. He paused for a second. He looked at rose number 36 and shook his head; it couldn't have been his fault…
Kowalski always said that our relationship would have been complicated… Skipper thought. Two different species don't usually join together but…. Me and Marlene… we had something special. Skipper kept walking. Not looking back. Not wanting to remember the times he and Marlene had been on their dates, where he taught her some defense moves… where they had they're first kiss… no… we parted too long ago, those thoughts had to go away. Skipper kept walking.
Skipper made it to the park. He was so glad that he had no memories here with Marlene… it was all too painful. To lose the one you held so close. The night she left him was still so fresh in his mind… 36 days isn't very long if you think about it… Skipper reached his destination. He slowly walked through the stones that he had memorized through those past 36 days. He kept trying to fight it, but one single tear slipped down his cheek as he held rose 36 before the stone he had wanted to reach. He knew it had been his fault. He should have held her delicate paw tighter… she shouldn't have slipped… and without a word, he placed rose 36 down before the stone. 36 days had past… and 36 small roses were now neatly place in front of the stone.
Right, on Marlene's grave.
