"Well, Sally, I'm so glad that you like it. I had to think for quite some time about what to get you! After all, it's a big day. Ooooo, yes. We should really party hard today." Maria responded.
"Ha! Old girl, you're crazy! You know nobody as old as you can go partying all night long! We're not in our twenties!" Sally responded, making light of the fact that she was turning 80.
"You're only as old as you feel, they say! And besides, you have a good 2 years on me! I'm still a spring chicken!" Maria laughed.
After a moment of laughter, Maria calmed down and asked Sally the question that had been on her mind.
"So, Sal, how has Ben held up lately? Last I heard, he wasn't doing so good."
"Oh, Em, it's become such a hard thing for him to just get up out of bed these days. Just last week, he had to miss out on that little get-together I had planned with the grandkids because he was just in too much pain to move."
"I see. Well, you know what they say, life gets the best of us all, someday. Let him know that I've been thinking about him. I really do hope everything works out for you both."
"Oh, I know, Em. I know. But how have you been? After all this time, still living up the good life with all those wild parties?"
"Well, Sal, you know how tough it is for a girl to find someone who'll look past these old bones nowdays. It has been tough. But you know, I'm getting along alright. I may not have any grandkids of my own, but my brother has been kind enough to share his daughter and her kids. Oh, and they're growing up so fast."
The doorbell rang, and Maria made her way to it. She wasn't expecting any visitors other than Sally, so the whole situation caught her by surprise. As she opened the door, she was met with an even greater surprise. Standing in front of her, holding a bouquet of flowers was a young man.
"Well, hello there, young man. Is there something I can help you with?" Maria asked.
"Actually, ma'am, there is. You see, I... I have something to tell you. Something I just had to say." He began.
"Oh, well, do get on with it then, dear!" Maria smiled. To her surprise, he burst into song.
"Oh, milady! How I wish to know you more! Seeing you daily, as you walk along the shore! My heart, it skips a beat and now I'm sure, that you are the one that I adore! I want to spend my days with you, and hear what you've gone through. I want to hold onto your hand, and forever be your man! I want to serenade you daily, because you make me want to sing. I want to hold your hand and know your mine... I want to give you a ring. So be forever mine, and I'll give you everything."
Maria was stunned. A young man like this, singing such sentiments to her? He didn't look like he was even in his 30s yet. Sally, who was still sitting at the card table in the living room, started clapping.
"You go girl! Look at you! Seems you have yourself an admirer!" Sally whooped from across the room.
"Well, young man... what is your name?" Maria asked.
"Oh, me? I'm Dylan. And it's a pleasure to meet you..."
"Well, Dylan, while I appreciate the sentiment..."
"Oh, and these are for you!" Dylan said, quickly handing the bouquet to Maria.
"Now, just hold on there for a moment! How can a young man like you be professing your love for an old lady like myself?" Maria inquired.
"What? Oh! Oh, no. No, uh, I think you have the wrong idea. Actually, I'm just a singing telegram and flower delivery guy. Yeah, uh, see the card in the flowers? Yeah, that's who this is from."
Maria blushed, and felt quite embarrassed. How could she have made that mistake? No, of course, that explanation made much more sense.
"Oh, yes, I mean... of course you are, dear. Thank you, Dylan."
"Yes, well, have a nice day, ma'am. And... you know, I think you're lucky to have someone who is so interested in you. But that's just my opinion." Dylan said, as he took his leave.
Sally was now laughing quite heartily.
"Oh! Oh! The look on your face! When he said he was just a delivery boy!"
"Oh, shut it, Sal. You know that was an honest mistake!"
"I think you've been alone for a bit too long, Em! Perhaps you should think about going out with the man who sent those flowers to you! Instead of trying to rob the cradle with boys like *Dylan*!" Sally said, making sure that Dylan's name was said as lovey-dovey as she could say it before she burst into another wave of laughter.
"Alright, enough laughing at my expense. Who sent these flowers anyways?" Maria asked, taking a look at the card in the bouquet. It read:
You may have never seen me, but I have seen you. I am certain that you are the one. Every day, I watch as you leave your house, and take a stroll along the beach. I have long wanted to say something, but been too afraid of the possibility that you may say no. But at long last I have worked up the nerve to profess my feelings... even if it is in the hands of a person too young to truly understand. I hope that tomorrow, you will meet me at the shore, and that we shall find love, together. Sincerely, Ruben."Ruben? My, my! Sounds like you may have struck gold, Em!" Sally said with a smile on her face.
"Well, I don't know. I don't recall seeing anybody during my morning walks. But my eyes aren't what they used to be, so maybe he was there and I just didn't see him." Maria replied, feeling a bit confused.
"Well, I'm happy to hear that you may be getting that birthday wish you had."
"Which one is that now?"
"Why, the one that you had every year since you were 30! To finally find a man to settle down with!"
After they partied for a little while, indoors and with a game of dominos and a glass of wine each, Sally went back to her place to check on Ben. As Maria said her goodbyes, she was wished good luck on the "date". Naturally, Maria couldn't help but chuckle. Sally always did have a good sense of humor about things.
The following day, Maria prepared herself to meet the mystery man who had sent her some very nice flowers accompanied by Dylan and that song. While she was getting ready, she suddenly realized that she hadn't found out if that was a song Dylan had wrote, or something by her mystery man.
Thinking about it, she was certain the man must have wrote it. Otherwise, it probably wouldn't have specifically mentioned seeing her on the beach everyday, right?
Arriving on the beach, Maria was approached by a quite handsome and distinguished looking gentleman.
Before she even had a chance to say anything, Ruben was already on one knee. He opened the ring case, and proposed.
The whole thing happened so fast Maria couldn't process everything at once.
She had slapped him for proposing so soon, but then after they spent time together for a few months, it was just absolutely clear that it was meant to be. And so, when he proposed again, Maria eagerly accepted his proposal.
The first year just flew by, and before she knew it, it was the one year anniversary of her marriage with Ruben. But this day was something special. Special, and also, very, very wrong.
"Ruben. Ruben, wake up dear. Ruben! Oh... oh no! Ruben, come on! Don't do this to me! Ruben! Wake up! Oh, God. ... Hello? Yes, my husband... he's not responding, he feels a bit cold to the touch and he's not breathing! Yes, I know CPR. Please hurry! It's 1524 Crestcove! Please, you have to help me!"
A week later, Sally held Maria in an embrace, trying to comfort her... but the tears wouldn't stop, and the warmth of Sally's cloak did little to warm Maria's heart.
"It's too soon. It's not fair." Maria sobbed, as the service, now over, began to disperse, and the coffin was lowered into the grave.
"I know, Em. I know. After all that time, and then this. But you still have me, just like before."
"It's just not the same! I can't take it anymore!" Maria yelled, her words coming out of her mouth like a frenzied cry. "Why now? Why him?"
"We can't know the answer to those things, Em." Sally said, and though she wanted to say something more to comfort her hurting friend, she was at a loss for words. What, if anything, could she say to heal the hurt that Maria was feeling? So, for lack of anything to say, Sally simply stayed by her side, and did what she could to catch the tears that fell from her friend's face as they overflowed from her broken heart.
It wasn't long after that, Maria also passed on. Many thought that age had simply gotten to her,
but Sally, and a few others close to Maria, knew that she had just lost the will to live. She had died of a broken heart.
Sally was in charge of writing the obituary for her friend. It was the most painful thing she had ever had to do for Maria. So, because of her deep affection for her life-long friend, she wrote the story.
Maria of Calentro, 80, went on to be with her beloved Ruben on August 6th. She is survived by her brother, James, her niece Francis, Francis' children and beloved grandnephews Justin and Bobby, and many other friends and loved ones. She always had a zeal for life, even as she neared the end of it, but nothing brought her more joy than when she met Ruben. Their whirlwind romance ended abruptly a year after their marriage began. Truly, Maria was anxious to see him again. Although she will be sorely missed, the memories of all the time spent with her will surely live on in our hearts. Her favorite quote was "keep looking up, because that's where it all is". She would want to remind all her loved ones that even though times may seem bleak, by looking up, and moving forward, they honor her memory.
