Resilience | S. Rogers [3]

03 | FAREWELLS

June 2016
London, England

The church was filled with only the sound of the classical organ and the children's choir for everyone else was in longing and mournful silence as they watched the coffin being carried by six men. In the left front was Peggy's son, on the right was Steve Rogers holding back tears, though his eyes were already red, as he helped carry his love to the front of the place.

Rose watched as they lowered the coffin covered with a United Kingdom flag with a casket wreath of white flowers on top.

Most of the service was a blur for Rose, she heard the words the priest was saying but was lost in memory whenever one of his words sparked replays of her time with Peggy. She came back to her senses when the people in the left first row, Peggy's direct relatives, started getting up and leaving flowers on top of the coffin.

Soon, it would be her turn, she was sitting on the first row on the right, right next to the hall. She rose up with flowers in her hand, it was a small bouquet of flowers, different to the single rose the rest were carrying. Only the first row could leave flowers in the coffin since they were the closest ones to the deceased.

She gazed at her bouquet again, fiddling with the string. The flowers could be considered exotic compared to the common white roses people used. Steve had raised his brows with a forced smile trying not to look miserable as he had said, Rosemaries, right? He'd remembered the last time he'd gone to a funeral with her. Remembrance, he'd added.

She had nodded with a tight-lipped smile, though her eyes had a tiny hint of happiness knowing that he had remembered, just a bit.

What does lavender mean? He had asked. Steve wasn't the best with flowers, but he knew the smell of that one, he also knew that Rose was thoughtful in everything she did so she hadn't just chosen the plant for its smell or looks.

Admiration and beauty.

It was fitting.

Peggy had always been gorgeous and even with old age, her face held traces of the young woman she used to be, her expression, her gaze, demeanour...she was still graceful and beautiful. And well, Rose would always admire her. The way she carried herself, how she never stopped fighting for what was right, how she stood her ground for what she believed in and helped people.

She continued to explain to him the meaning of the other flowers without him even asking, she needed to focus on something else other than the fact that she was on her way to bury her best friend. Tulips for love, affection and confidence, a purple one as a joke for Peggy being British and sometimes carrying the grace and decorum of royalty...sometimes. White zinnia for friendship and endurance. Finally, a yellow rose for friendship and most importantly gratitude.

Peggy wasn't there to understand the meaning behind her flowers, but it helped Rose to cope with her death.

She laid the bouquet on top of the coffin gently with a broken smile. She went back to her seat with a heavy heart not before glancing at the image of Peggy in display, it was from her years in the army.