The Last Farewell

It was a pleasant spring day in London. It had rained early that morning but cleared by midmorning and there was a cool breeze. After spending the morning shopping for flowers Petunia decides to have lunch at her favorite café that is next to the rose gardens. After ordering her meal, she is taken aback to see her childhood sweetheart Ernest walking up the lane.

“Hello, Petunia,” Ernest says while flourishing a bow, “lovely day for a stroll, is it not?” While gazing into her deep brown eyes, he asked, “That is a nice hat, is it new?”

“Hi Ernest,” Petunia whispers while she tries to repress emotions she thought long dead. “It is a pleasant morning,” she replies while offerings Ernest her hand. “I just bought it this morning. Thank you for noticing.” While kissing her hand, he slowly sits down next to her. “What are you doing back in London?” Petunia inquires while vainly trying to untangle her hand from his.

“All the beauty of Paris is meaningless when my heart is here in London,” Ernest says looking deeply in to Petunia’s eye. Shaken by this sudden confession of love, Petunia turns away, unable to witness the passion in Ernest’s eyes.

“You have been away for such a long time and I thought you were never coming back again,” Petunia says, while plucking the petals from a nearby rose.

“Those words were spoken in anger. I never meant to hurt you,” cries Ernest

“I guess you haven’t heard,” confesses Petunia as she crumples the petals and scatters them across the ground, “I married your brother.” A look of great anguish contorts Ernest’s face as he drops her had to the table. In his hurry to stand up, Ernest sends the chair skidding across the café and crashing into another table, spilling the drinks.

“How could you,” he shouts over his shoulder as he storms off with tears falling down his cheek. “I loved you!”

“I’m so sorry, but I thought you were never coming back,” Petunia sobs. Unfortunately it was of no avail for he had already turned the corner. Deep in her heart, she knew that was the last she would ever see of Ernest.