A hundred days have passed since I smelled her hair, or kissed her ears and watched her laugh. I didn't wake up to her light brown eyes for so long, but the golden halo around it always kept me awake at night.
I recalled her whispers and remembered them as holy chants. Falling asleep in her arms everyday was like a ritual I'd perform for peace. Listening to her sweet moans were like the very first chirping of the birds in the dawn-fresh and soothing, reminding me that I am alive.
I look outside the train window. 3 hours still left to reach home. I take out a picture of our wedding and look at her smiling as she held me tight in the photograph. She looked so beautiful in that red bridal gown. She has never been orthodox. Every year on our anniversary, we'd just walk on the streets and eat cakes and dance to our favorite songs. Suddenly someone started humming 'Hey Jude' and it reminded me of how she used to ask me to sing this on cold nights. It was her favorite song. Hugging the photograph to my chest, I doze off.
Someone poked me and I woke up from my dreams of meeting her. Smiling, I put the photograph back inside my wallet.
I purchase a bouquet of sunflowers. I remember how she smelled them and then asked me to tuck a small one behind her ear. I loved to give her roses but she never liked them. She said they were too perfect. Everytime I asked her out, she screamed "Remember the sunflowers!" in the end.
I take a cab. As I open the window of the car, I realise nothing has changed. Giant sequoia trees, windy evenings, lonely pavements, cloudy skies; they are still the same. There was a huge rock at the end of the forest where we used to sit when it thundered and rained. Oh, how I miss her. I hope I don't get too late. She might get angry.
I reach and pay the driver. My heart thumped and my hands shivered. The sharp pang of being so far away from her made my eyes blurred. Tears slowly streamed down my cheeks.
"Why are you crying, you dumb head?", she asks.
"It's our 50th Anniversary and I got late. How careless of me to do so. I am sorry, Honey. I.. I love you. Happy Anniversary! I brought you sunflowers, your favorite"
"You remembered?", she asked.
I caress the rough surface of the grave as I imagine our conversation. Kissing the flowers, I put them on tomb.
"ALWAYS", I whispered to the grave.
