Tuscany, Italy
The rows of cypress trees were gently swaying with the wind as the bustling street of Siena was muffled as soon as the solitary figure of an elderly lady walked in what seemed like an already familiar cobblestone pathway.
For locals and vendors, it was nothing short of unusual. There’s only a handful of occasions where the woman was not seen in the old cemetery because almost every day, for the past five years, the lady without fail, walked along the familiar weathered path regardless of rain and snow. A clump of flowers called lily of the valley, tightly held by a shaky hand. A limp is visible in her gait but the woman moved forward, slowly, persistently until she stopped in front of a grassy clearance where a beautiful white marbled tombstone is, a stark contrast of other neglected grave around, this one was very well maintained with trimmed grasses and flowers everytime the autumn blooms.
Time’s arrow stands still for no one; it merely marches forward silently, steadily. It will never stop nor turn back regardless of the riches that you could offer. It’s a lesson that Dr. Fahlada Thananusak learns everyday.
The early snow steadily fell with no signs of stopping on this winter day. The sun rose high in the sky with the morning chill whisking across her face. With flowers in hand, she scraped the thin layer of snow aside using her boots and sat down.
"Sawadee, Jaokwamrak." Dr. Fahlada said her usual greeting to her wife with a sad smile, the flowers were laid carefully on top of the marbled epitaph.
In Loving Memory of Earn Sanithada Thananusak
There is only happiness in life, to love and to be loved.
Dr. Fahlada can't help but recall her memories again.
Their twin daughters, Rinlada and Ranlada were already settled with their own family, the business was in a good hand of their daughters and Fahlada who's nearing fifty decides to retire with her wife in Italy, The place where they first met and come to fall in love with. Fahlada knew how her wife likes the house and the lake with the endless views of the peaceful meadows so she always made sure that they visit the country annually but after her retirement, the couple decides to live their permanently.
Fahlada loved their daughter so much. With the help of technology, they were able to extract her egg, have it fertilized and Earn was fully determined to carry them into full term. Nothing would feel more wondrous than seeing the twins crying right after they came into the world but the twenty years that they lived in Italy feels like a wistful dream. The happiest that they've ever been.
Her wife was 43 when they moved to their dream house and it made Earn even more lively. The slow mornings where they lounges in the bed,making love as if they're still teenagers, the lazy walk during the afternoon underneath the line of old grand pine trees, Earn's on the spur moment camping trips that left Fahlada scrambling on her knees, the stroll around the Farmer's market with Lada shopping and making sure that her wife eats quality food (only to end the trip with her mouth full of scones), Earn even learned to crochet and Lada was made to wear them silly hats to the delight of the younger woman. Twenty years just went by in a blink of an eye.
The retired Doctor again smiled while remembering all of this.
"How are you, up there?" her voice started to break, tear welling up her eyes. "I miss you, my love."
