A Vase of Yellow Roses

Created: August 27, 2007

              11:39 PM

This is the second of the "Roses" series. There are three. The last one got lost. It was my favorite. Hopefully, I'd be able to still get hold of a copy. :) Anyway, the song I paired up for this is:

A Vase of Yellow Roses

Her parents died in a car accident when she was twelve. She was left all alone to a non-friendly and uncaring environment. The very reason why she stopped believing in God.

At the age of twelve, he found out he was sick. He possessed a disease which would kill him anytime. And this led him to believe in miracles, to believe in God even more.

Seven years later...

He kissed the piece of paper where he wrote his name and telephone number. "The girl who'll have this will be my destiny", he smiled ans placed the paper inside the book by Norman Vincent Peale. Ofcourse, it was just his wishful thinking. The books are for charity. But, he has so much faith and hope in his heart.

 

"Just the book that I'm looking for!" she exclaimed as she was browsing on the bargained books. She bought it at the price of only Php 25.00. As she got home, she started to read the book when a piece of paper fell.

"Matthew Montez. 555-1477." she read.

"May I know who's on the other line, please?", an angelic voice from a teenage boy spoke. It stunned her for a moment. "Hello? Are you there?"

"Ha? Mmmm.. hello..mmm..I'm Keiran. Mmm.." She stammered. This is the tenth time she called using different area codes and country codes. The past nine were failures. "Are you Matthew? Matthew Montez?" She just don't know why she even called that number. For all she know, Matthew could be an old man or someone made-up. But she got curious.

After that first call, many calls came from Matthew followed. They even exchanged letters now and then but neither one sent a picture. They vowed not to. They don't want to lose the magic of what they have just because of appearances.

That's how Matthew and Keiran's story of love started.

It all happened so swift that they've fallen in love with each other. But the thing is, they haven't met yet. Days passed and their feelings for each other grew.

Matthew taught Keiran to love again and still on the process of making her believe that God's real.

Keiran became Matthew's inspiration to live longer and fought his illness. But he never told her his real situation..that he's awfully sick.

One day, Matthew stopped writing. Stopped answering Keiran's calls. This broke Keiran into pieces. But she continued hoping until she lost all hope. She, too, stopped calling and writing.

Three months later, she graduated B.S. Nursing, passed all the examinations and decided to work in the United States of America.

"I'll find Matthew. After all, I still have his address" she promised herself the moment she sat on the airplane seat, holding the book which led her to him, and him to her. Matthew. The man she loves and will always love.

Much to her disappointment, Matthew wasn't there anymore. Nobody from his neighborhood knew where the family transferred.

"I have to move on..Matthew was just an illusion. He's someone I would never have. But..maybe the only guy I'd love for the rest of my life.."

She worked in a hospital in Chicago, Matthew's place, but got transferred to New York after 6 months.

"Oh God!" she gasped, seeing her comatose patient. He looks so pale and sick, breaking her heart.

 "He's been in a coma for almost a year now", the doctor said.

She looked at his chart and cried, "No...not Matthew.."

Now, she realized the reason why Matthew hasn't been answering her calls and letters. And it's because he's sick. In a coma.

"You have to get well, Matt.. So you'll see me.. Didn't you tell me that you'd be so happy if you'll see me? Matt, I'm here now.." tears fell from her eyes. "Matt, I'm here now. Please wake up.. Please.." she whispered while holding his frail, unmoving hand.

The next day, she brought 7 yellow roses and placed it in a vase in Matthew's hospital table. She smiled, looking at him. "He looks like an angel.." she thought and kissed his lips gently. "It wouldn't hurt to steal a kiss from someone you love, right?" she said out loud when the door opened.

"Nurse Keiran, we need to take his respirator this afternoon", the doctor informed her matter-of-factly. He was followed by Matthew's parents who are both tear-streaked.

The respirator? The only thing that keeps him living..they'll take it away.

"No. Please no! Don't you love Matthew? Please? He'll get well.. You'll see, he will. Please, Mr and Mrs Montez? Please don't give up on him" She begged, crying, knees on the floor. "Please"

The decision was final. His parents couldn't take it seeing their son suffering. At 4pm that day, Matthew's life support will be taken away from him.

Due to much depression, she didn't know that her feet were taking her to the nearest church. She knelt and cried.

"You took away my parents. And now.. Matthew?"she shouted, facing Jesus Christ on the crucifix. "Please..."she whispered, begging"not Matthew, too. Lord, I'll make a bargain. Just let him live. This is the first time I've ever asked something from you. Please make him live...Just make him live and I'll serve you for the rest of my life. I don't care if he won't see me when he wakes up, just please let him live. Please.."

When Matthew woke up that day, he saw on his table a vase of yellow roses. 7 roses. 7..his lucky number..and a letter.

He read...

I know God would grant me my prayer. You may not see me when you'll wake up but always remember that i love you. I will always love you. Goodbye, Matt. 

Keiran

Matt's health returned duly. It was a miracle, the doctors said. Now, it was his time to look fro Keiran hut it was to no avail. 7 years later, he got married. Selfish and unfair as it may sound, he still loves Keiran but he lost all hope of finding her.

Another 7 years passed...

"Dad! Come! The pretty nun and I have the same names!", Matt's daughter said, while they were at the church they visited in the Philippines. She pulled her dad toward the nun in white and black. "Sister Keiran, meet my dad!"

Silence.

"Matthew..", Keiran mutteres under her breath,as she recognized his face.

"How?" he was supposed to ask how she knew his name but then he saw her holding the book...the book of Norman Vincent Peale..his book..the book which lead him to her and her to him.. "Keiran..."

Tears fell from Keiran's eyes.

"Hon, let's go?", his wife said, oblivious of what's happening.

He sighed and nodded.

"Bye, Sister Keiran!", his daughter said.

Matthew wanted to tell her so many things but it's all too late now..too late. He walked away with his family with tears in his heart and eyes. He gave Keiran one last glance before they went out of the church's door.

It was the first time he saw her and the last time for them both. They may not have ended up together, but their love would always be there.

Sometimes you'd rather sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of the one you love.

You'd rather die...just to see them live.

-camaeja-