Day 2: Flowers
Worn down sneakers strolled down the paved path of concrete. The wearer of these shoes kept to herself. She would nod to others passing by but never waved.
She carried a bundle and her free hand stayed put in the pocket of her brown, leather jacket. Her lilac eyes were always forward.
The sun was at its apex in the cloud-covered sky, yet it hardly lit the area around her. Still, the green grass and the vibrant flowers brought much-needed color to this concrete ridden place.
As she continued down the path, the number of people she saw slowly declined. The grass, while neatly trimmed and clearly cared for, consumed more of the land. Fewer slabs of stone dotted the area.
Comfortable with the dearth of people around her, she began to hum a simple tune. It was from a time long passed that her beloved would sing to her children when they were little. She never realized it before, but when she would hear this tune, she would also be lulled into a deep calm.
So, she walked in her blue jeans and brown, leather jacket humming a song while enjoying the chilled air and shaded paths. Every step led her closer to the person she wanted to see today. It was a very special day after all.
She took a deep breath through her nose as a calm breeze fluttered through her golden tresses. She was almost there.
Looking around, the cold concrete had shifted almost entirely to grass and life. Everything was green except for one object at the end. The concrete path gave way to dirt and then grass.
At last, she found herself face to face with what she came here for.
She sighed deeply and briefly removed her hand from her pocket to tuck a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.
She almost did not know what to say.
Almost…
"Hey…" she nearly whispered, "Long time no see, huh."
She stood there, waiting for a response.
"I'm sorry I haven't been around much. I've had a lot on my plate recently…"
Only the breeze and quiet chirps of birds in distant trees answered her. She looked away, mulling over the thoughts that swirled in her mind.
"Man, there's actually a ton of stuff I haven't told you yet. I don't have much time, so I'll tell you the important things," she softly chuckled, "I finally got Ruby to try sushi. She didn't like it. Can't say I was surprised. God, she's how many years old now and she still doesn't want to eat anything that isn't a cookie."
She laughed to herself, "It's like you always said: 'Someday, Ruby's sweet tooth is going to be her only tooth.' I still have no clue how she manages to stay so slim. I'll let you know when I find out."
She chuckled to herself for a few more moments until the quiet settled back in.
"Um, let's see… What else…" she bit her lip in thought, "Dad got a new heart a few weeks ago. It cost a fortune, but it's nothing I can't recover from. Just got to put a few more hours in at work. Don't worry. Overtime never hurt anyone; you of all people should know that."
She scratched her head and cleared her throat as her eyes looked at the sky for some reminder of what else to talk about.
"I think… Yeah, other than that, nothing major has happened since last time. The girls are still doing great at university, and—" she gasped, "Oh! I can't believe I forgot! The girls both have boyfriends now! God, it was so awkward when they came over. They both asked for my permission to date them and everything. I mean, it was sweet of them, and I think they're both nice boys, but I so couldn't help myself. I gave them 'the talk' and now they're both terrified of me. It's hilarious. Again, they're great guys. They're almost as smart as the girls and they have great manners. I definitely think you'd approve."
Her smile was wide as she giggled like a child. It was a nice change of pace from the unending quiet that always surrounded this place like a thick fog. But it was impossible for this to last, and as the levity faltered, a frown found its residence on her face.
"You, um… You should've been here through all of that," she whispered.
Her lip trembled, and she pressed her fist to her mouth. She tried her hardest to keep them back, but the words would not obey her command.
"I still think about you every day…" her voice cracked and tears rolled down her cheeks, "I miss you so much… I always wonder how things could have been different… I should've been there when…"
Her heart shattered again and again in her chest as she squeezed her eyes shut. She clamped her hand over her mouth, desperately trying to silence her sobs. Her shoulders shook, and her tears stained her shirt.
Minutes passed as tears flowed freely until she had none left. Her breaths were short, and she shuddered once in a while in the chilly breeze.
She wiped at her wet face and sniffled as a painful smile took over her features.
"Wow… I haven't cried like that in years," she sighed as she tried to regain control of her breathing, "I, uh… I have to go now. I wish I could stay longer, but I'm actually seeing someone today. It's been lonely at home since the girls are off at college now… Wish me luck."
She turned to leave, but looked back as a realization came to her, "There I go being forgetful again," she chuckled with a sad smile as she held up the bundle in her hand.
She crouched down with much effort and placed a modest bouquet of white lilies before the large slab of concrete.
"I got these for you," she said, "I know they're your favorite."
She strained as she got back to her feet and looked down at the flowers.
"Happy Anniversary, Weiss. I love you… Always."
A/N: Hello all! I just wanted to mention why there's no new chapter to my ongoing story, Of Family and Fulfillment. Basically, I totally forgot it was Freezerburn Week last week, which is also why there is no Day 1 entry. So, this is what I've been doing all week. I might come back and do something for Day 1, but we'll see. I hope you enjoyed this and the other entries!