I was walking by the lake when I saw it—a single red rose with a note attached, resting near the edge of the water. Curiosity got the best of me, so I picked it up and read the words.
“Please, can someone throw this into the lake for me? My late husband’s ashes are in the lake, and I can’t get to the lakeside in my wheelchair anymore. The gates are locked, and I have to drive back up tonight. Thank you x” I held the rose a little tighter, feeling the weight of what I was about to do. This wasn’t just a flower—it was love, grief, and longing, all wrapped in delicate petals. I walked to the water’s edge, took a deep breath, and let it go.
And as I watched it drift away, I realized something I hadn’t expected: this act of kindness would change me forever. The next morning, as I sipped my coffee on my porch overlooking the lake, I couldn’t stop thinking about that note. Who was she? What was her story? The questions swirled in my mind like the ripples from where the rose had landed. It felt unfinished, like there was more to uncover.
Later that day, I decided to visit the local café near the park entrance. Maybe someone there knew who had left the rose. As I ordered my usual latte, I noticed an older woman sitting alone at a corner table. She wore a soft cardigan over her shoulders and stared out the window toward the lake. There was something about her demeanor—quiet sadness mixed with quiet strength—that caught my attention.
Evelyn explained everything. Her son, Daniel, had passed away two years ago after a sudden illness. He and Clara had been inseparable since college. When he died, they scattered his ashes in the lake because it was their favorite spot—they used to come here every weekend, even in winter, bundled up with thermoses of hot chocolate. But now, Clara rarely visited anymore—not because she didn’t want to, but because life had become complicated.
“She’s been struggling,” Evelyn continued. “After Daniel passed, she threw herself into work. She doesn’t talk much these days, not even to me. But last week, she called me crying. She wanted to leave something special for him but couldn’t make it to the lake herself.” That’s when Evelyn suggested leaving the rose with a note, hoping someone kind-hearted would find it. And apparently, fate—or maybe Daniel himself—had led me to it.
