Softly
By Soho178
Softly
Softly she comes
Whispers the breeze with her passing
In secret love she is laughing
Softly she comes in the night
Softly she sighs
Sweetly she lies never sleeping
Her fragrance all in my keeping
Softly she comes in the night
Down the darkened hall
I hear her footsteps on my stair
And she is in my arms once more
Then softly she goes
Her shining lips in the shadows
Whisper goodbye at my window
Softly she goes in the dawn
Gordon Lightfoot
He stood up to survey his handiwork and smiled. She loved the roses. It seemed like their life together was filled with roses. You could always find her sitting in the garden, surrounded by them and at night they would walk, taking in the heady fragrance and stealing kisses like two teenagers, not the married couple they were. He chuckled, that made them sound old when really, they were newlyweds.
He brushed the dirt from his hands and brought a bucket of water from the stream just down the rise. It was the wrong time of year to plant but if he was careful and watered them daily they should do well. It was the only gift he could think of to give her for their anniversary. One year today. Time had gone so fast, how could it be a year already?
He lay in bed, with the moonlight streaming through the window, the scent of summer roses strong on the night breeze. The lace curtains stirred and he heard the sound of footsteps in the hall. She opened the door and slipped in, beautiful in the negligee she'd last worn on their wedding night. Crossing to the window she stood bathed in the moonlight and he was silenced by her beauty. The way the light tumbled in her hair, the caress of the silk against the curve of her hip and thigh left him breathless with wonder.
She came to him, lying close against his side and brushing his lips with hers, carrying the scent of roses on her skin.
"Thank you for the roses, beloved."
"You like them?"
"They're perfect." She kissed him and rose.
"Where are you going?"
"It's time Jarrod, time for me to go, time for you to let me go."
"No! Beth, stay with me!"
"I can't, my love." She brushed away the tear that ran down his cheek. "Come watch the sunrise with me one last time."