THE GARDENIA TREE

He saw her for the first time, when they were both waiting for a Taxi
in a street of Manhattan, New York.- The year was 1944.-

She was so young, so beautiful., like the woman he had dreamed of since he had become of age.-Her black long hair, was getting wet, as well as her dress, but he could see her beautiful figure.

It was raining very hard, and a Taxi came by.- He stopped it, and asked her if she would not mind sharing the Taxi with him. She looked at him for the first time, and he was lost in the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen. She was also impressed by this handsome young man, tall with black curly hair, so wet by the rain that she felt sorry for him, and agreed to share the Taxi.

They introduced themselves. She was embarrassed at first, but soon realized, he was a respectful gentleman,- nothing to be afraid about.

They talked for a while, and both of them could feel “the chemistry” that made them want to keep talking for the rest of their lives. He could smell her perfume, so delicate, just like her, but at the same time, so
Delicious,- it could drive him crazy. He asked her the name of the perfume she was wearing, and she told him “GARDENIA”.- It was the only perfume she ever used.-

She told him she loved Gardenias,- they were her very favorite flower.-

He asked the taxi driver to take her to her destination first, not only to spend more time with her, but to know where she lived. When they arrived, he saw a beautiful house that was full of Gardenia Trees. When he got out out to open the door for her, he could smell the sweet perfume that came, not only from her, but from her house. She had told him she lived there with her parents., and her mother also loved Gardenias.

They said  goodbye, and she ran into the house to escape the rain. He stood there, as if he was floating on a cloud, while rain kept pouring on him.- The Taxi Driver woke him up from his dream, and he got into the taxi.

The next day, she received a bouquet of 15 beautiful gardenias, with a card that said: “I Thank You for sharing the taxi with me, and I Thank God for meeting you”.-

She was only 19, but very matured for her age.- She knew, deep down, that this would be the man she would spend the rest of her life with.-

The next day, he showed up at her house, bringing 2 bouquets of Gardenias with him.- One for her, and another one for her mother.

In less than one year, they were married. He was 8 years older than her, but always, when he was with her, he felt like a little boy, whose only joy and dream, was his beautiful wife.- They received their first son 1 year latter, and after him 2 precious Twin girls, that resembled their mother in many ways.

The first thing he did, when he bought their beautiful house, he ordered a Gardenia tree to be planted at the entrance.- She used to take care of that tree as if it were another child. Every morning, when he left for work, she would kiss him, in front of the Gardenia tree, and every night, when she heard his car, she would rush out of the house, and did the same thing.

One day, she told him she was saddened by the fact that the Gardenia tree had not grown a single flower, after more than 3 years. They bought other Gardenia trees, but 10 years had gone by, and none of the trees would grow a single flower.- Their gardener always took care of these trees, and after  feeding them and doing everything possible, he finally told them that there was something in the soil, in that part of town, that affected the trees, and that they would never grow flowers.

One Saturday morning, she was  in the kitchen preparing breakfast for her and her husband.- She was already 53 years old, but looked as magnificent as when he had met her for the first time. All the children had left the house, had been through college, and all three were already married. They had 2 grandchildren.

All of a sudden she felt drowsy, and fainted, hitting her head hard on the marble floor. He heard the noise and ran down the stairs to the kitchen.- She was laying on the floor, and some blood was pouring out of her head.

He immediately called and ambulance, and insisted they had to let him go with her inside the ambulance.- He knew that if something happened to her, he would not be able to survive. She was his whole life.-

When they arrived at the hospital, they immediately rushed her in, since she had suffered a stroke, --but also the fall had cause inflammation on her brain and they had to operate immediately. The doctors were very honest with him, and told him the situation was extremely serious.

He stood there, as if a tone of bricks had fallen and destroyed his whole body., as well as his whole life-in a matter of seconds. He could not stand on his feet any longer, and sat in one of the chairs of the waiting room.---with his face in his hands, trying to hide his tears.-

He waited for more that 2 hours, when one of the doctors came to see him.- He told him that they had done all they could, but the damage was serious. They were able to release the blood from her brain, but her heart was in terrible condition.- The doctors were surprised she could have lived for so long with that heart. This doctor then, took him by the shoulders and told him, that due to the stress of the operation, they did not expect her to survive more than a few hours, since her heart was extremely weak.

He immediately asked if he could see her, he needed to be with her.- The doctor took him inside the Recuperation Room, and told him it would take at least 30 minutes before she came out of the anesthetics.

He sat there, next to her.- Holding her hand and kissing it, while he was unable to control his tears.- In about half an hour, she opened her still beautiful green eyes, and saw him next to her.- She asked him to get near her, since there was something she needed to tell him.-

He put his ear near her mouth, and she told him, very faintly- “I want you to promise me you will cremate me, and pour the ashes in the roots of our first Gardenia Tree”.- He held her desperately, and told her she could not die, since he would not be able to live without her.-

With great effort, she spoke again, and told him: “I will always be with you”.- You will receive my KISS when you leave in the Morning, and then again when you return at night”. “All you have to do, is look at the Gardenia Tree”.- Very slowly, she closed her eyes, forever.- He realized she was gone, and kissed her, very tenderly, for the last time.

When he finally arrived at their house, he called their children who where all in different cities.- They immediately flew home, to be near their father, and prepare the funeral arrangements, since their father was in a state of shock.- His emotional state was such, he could not attend the funeral.- They called their doctor, who immediately sent him to the hospital.

After 2 months of intensive therapy, he started to “come back to life”.-
His doctor was finally convinced that he had recuperated, and decided to release him.

He went back to his house, or their house as they always called it.- She was still very present in his mind, heart and soul.- When he opened the door, he could still smell “her Gardenia Perfume”.

After 3 weeks, he decided to go back to work. He had a successful business he had to attend to. This would also keep his mind off her.

The next day, he got up early, got dressed, and when he opened the door to walk to the car, he looked at “The Gardenia Tree”, and could not believe his eyes.- The tree, the one he had planted when they first bought the house, had a Beautiful Big gardenia, but just one. None of the other trees had any gardenias.-

He remembered what she had told him, before her death, and could hardly hold his tears.- He grabbed the Gardenia and kissed it, and could feel her lips next to his., could even feel her breath.

When he arrived that night, he looked at the tree, and there was another Big beautiful Gardenia, waiting for him.-

Every single day, for the rest of his life, he had “HIS KISS”, when he left the house, and when he returned.

He never re-married again. Never ever had another woman in his arms.- He did not need it.- He still had “HER KISSES, DAY AND NIGHT,-- AND THAT WAS ALL HE NEEDED”.-

All thanks to their “GARDENIA TREE”.-

Eva de la Torriente Diaz
May 6, 2009

“Short Story”