Daisy, 83, had just lost her husband Robert after 63 years of marriage. Every Valentine’s Day had been marked by his devotion, from tiny bouquets of wildflowers in lean years to roses in better times. Even through tragedies—losing a child, sleepless nights with sick kids, and her mother’s death—he always returned with flowers, a simple but profound reminder that he was there.
After Robert’s passing in the fall, the house felt unbearably quiet. His slippers sat by the bed, his coffee mug hung unused, and Daisy’s daily routines—making tea, setting two cups at the table—reminded her of his absence. Valentine’s Day approached, the first in over six decades without him, and she felt the weight of his loss keenly.
That morning, she rose slowly, brewed tea, and sat at the kitchen table staring at the empty chair across from her. Memories of their life together filled the silence as the minutes ticked by, a stark reminder of the love that had shaped every year of her life.
Suddenly, a sharp knock at the door broke the quiet. Outside, Daisy discovered roses and a key to a hidden apartment Robert had kept secret for decades. What she found inside would move her to tears, a final testament to his enduring love and thoughtfulness, even beyond his death.